n
?1^
UooZ
CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
GIFT OF
Passing by.
.T 1924 013 582 329
The original of tliis book is in
tine Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013582329
PASSING BY
BY MAURICE BARING
LONDON : MARTIN SECKER
Goo3
fi 11 T a
7>. q S {'C^'i-
LONDON : MARTIN MECKBB (LTD.) 1921
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Friday, December i&th, 1908. Gray's Inn.
I went to the station this morning to
see the Housmans off. They are leaving
for Egypt and intend to stay there a
month or perhaps two months. They are
stopping* a few days at Paris on the way.
Saturday, December i()th.
My Christmas hoHdays begin. I am
spending Christmas with Uncle Arthur
and Aunt Ruth. I have to be back at
the office on the first of January.
Thursday, January \st, 1909. Gray's Inn.
Received a post-card from Mrs Hous-
man, from Cairo.
Monday, February 2nd.
Received a letter from Mrs Housman.
They are returning to London.
Sunday, February ?>th.
The Housmans return to-morrow. They
have been away one month and twenty-
one days.
7
Passing B .
Monday, February f)th.
Went to meet the Housmans at the
station. They are going straight into
their new house at Campden Hill and
are giving a house-warming dinner next
Monday, to which I have been invited.
Tuesday, February loth.
Lord Ayton has been made Parliament-
ary Under-Secretary. I do not know him
but I remain in the office. He is taking
me on.
Monday, February i6th. Gray's Inn.
The Housmans had their house-warming
in their new house at Campden Hill. I
was the first to arrive.
On one of the walls in the drawing-room
there is the large portrait of Mrs Housman
by Walter Bell, which I had never seen
since it was exhibited in the New Gallery
ten years ago. It was always being lent
for exhibitions when I went to the old
house in Inverness Terrace. While I
was looking at this picture Housman
Passing By
joined me and apologised for being late.
He said the portrait of Mrs Housman
was Bell's cJief-d'ceuvre. He liked it now.
Then he said: "We are having some
music to-night. Solway is dining with us
and will play afterwards. He plays for
nothing here, an old friend ; you know
him ? Miss Singer is coming too. You
know her? She writes. I don't read
her."
At that moment Mrs Housman came
in and almost immediately Mr and Mrs
Carrington-Smith were announced. Mr
Carrington-Smith is Housman's partner,
an expert in deep-breathing besides being
rich. Mrs Carrington-Smith had lately
arrived from Munich. The other guests
were — Miss Housman (Housman's sister),
Lady Jarvis, Miss Singer, whom I was
to take in to dinner, a city friend of
Mr Housman's, Mr James Randall, a little
man with a silk waistcoat, and, the last to
arrive, Solway. I sat on Mrs Housman's
left, next to Miss Singer. Carrington-
9
Passing By
Smith sat on Mrs Housman's right ;
Housman sat at the head of the table,
between Mrs Carrington-Smith and Lady
Jarvis. Miss Singer talked to me earnestly
at first. She is writing on the Italian
Renaissance. I told her I was ignorant
of the subject, upon which her earnestness
subsided, and she smiled. Then we talked
of music, where I felt more at home.
She had been to all Solway's concerts.
She is not a Wagnerite. Just as we
were beginning to get on smoothly there
was a shuffle in the conversation and
Mrs Housman turned to me.
I told her we had a new chief at the
office — Lord Ayton.
"We met him in Egypt," she said.
"He had been big-game shooting. I had
no idea he was an official."
I told her he was only a Parliamentary
Under-Secretary. At that moment there
was a lull in the general conversation and
Housman overheard us.
"Ayton," he broke in. "A pleasant
10
Passing By
fellow, not too much money, some fine
things, furniture, at his place, but he won't
go far, no grit." ,
I asked Mrs Housman what he was
like. She saict they had made great
friends at Cairo but she did not think
they would ever meet again.
"You know," she said, "these great
friends one makes travelling, people, you
know, who are just passing by "
Miss Singer said he had an old house
in Sussex. She had been over it. It
was let ; there were some fine old things
there.
" But he won't sell," said Housman.
" He's not a man of business."
Mrs Carrington-Smith said she pre-
ferred impressionist pictures, especially
the Danish school. Housman laughed at
her and said there was no money in them.
Miss Housman said she had heard from
a dealer that Lord Ayton had a remark-
able set of Charles II. chairs and that she
wished he would sell them. Solway took
II
Passing By
no part in the conversation but discussed
music with Miss Singer. I caught the
phrase, "trombones as good as Baireuth."
Mrs Housman asked me whether I had
seen Ayton yet. I told her he had not
been to the office.
" I think you will like him," she said.
Then, as an afterthought, " He's not a
musician."
She asked me whether there were any
changes in the staff. I told her none
except for the arrival of a new Private
Secretary (unpaid) whom Lord Ayton is
bringing with him, called Cunninghame.
She had never heard of him. We stayed
a long time in the dining-room. Housman
was proud of his Madeira and annoyed
with us for not drinking enough. Mr
Randall said he was sorry but he never
mixed his wines, and he had some more
champagne. Randall, Carrington-Smith
and Housman talked of the international
situation. Solway explained to me why
portions of the Ninth Symphony were
12
Passing B 1/
always played too fast. He was most
illuminating. Then we went upstairs.
More guests had arrived. A few people I
knew, a great many I had not seen before.
Solway played some Bach preludes and
the Waldstein Sonata. The unmusical
went downstairs. There were about a
dozen people left in the drawing-room.
Afterwards there were some refresh-
ments downstairs. I got away about
half-past twelve.
Tuesday, jFedruary 17M. Gray's Inn.
Our first day under the new regime.
The new chief came to the office to-day.
He looks young, and was friendly and
unofficial. The new Private Secretary
came too, Mr Guy Cunninghame, an
affable young man. He wears a beauti-
fully tied bow tie. I wonder how it is
done and whether it takes a long time
or not. He is well dressed, but when it
comes to describing him he is dressed like
anyone else, and yet he gives the im-
pression of being well dressed. I don't
13
Passing By
know why. I suppose it is an art like
any other. I could not tie a tie like that
to save my life. Equidem non invideo
magis miror.
He seems to have been everywhere, to
have read everything and to know every-
one. He is not condescending, he is just
naturally agreeable.
I had to go over to the Foreign Office
in the morning to see someone in the
Eastern Department. When I came back
Cunninghame told me that a Mrs Hous-
man had been to see Ayton, about some
billet for her brother-in-law. She talked
to him first. Cunninghame said he thought
she did not like coming on such an errand.
She then saw A., who said he would do
what he could. He told C. afterwards
he was sure he couldn't do anything for
the fellow. C. had never met her nor
heard of her, but curiously enough he said
he recognised her from her picture which
he had seen, Walter Bell's picture. I
asked him if he had seen it at the New
14
Passing By
Gallery. He said no, at a dealer's in
America two years ago.
I asked him if he was sure it was the
same picture. He said he was quite sure.
The picture was for sale.
"One couldn't mistake the picture," he
said. " It's the best thing Walter Bell
ever did. His pictures are valuable now
he is dead, but there was a slump in them
before he died, or rather, there never
was a boom in them. That one picture
attracted a great deal of attention when
it was first exhibited, and then one heard
little of him till he died. Now, of course,
his pictures fetch high prices."
15
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to his
cousin^ Mrs Caryl
London,
February iqth, igog.
Dearest Elsie,
Since my last letter I have
been installed. I am George Ayton's
Secretary. I sit in the office with another
man, who was there before and has been
taken on, called Mellon He is as silent
as a deaf-mute and I have no doubt is the
soul of discretion. There isn't much work
to do and Ayton has got a real Secretary
of his own who writes shorthand and type-
writes without mistakes and lives in his
house. He writes all his private letters
and does all his business for him. He
is not supposed to do official work, but
George brings him to the office all the
same, and he has a typewriter in the
clerk's room and is always ready to do
any odd job. I find him most useful.
He is still more silent than Mellor. I
i6
Passing By
haven't much to tell you. I have got
into my new flat in Halkin Street. It
will be presentable in time. The pictures
are up, but not the curtains. Let us hope
they won't be a failure; They were pro-
mised last week but have not yet arrived.
If you have time and are passing that way
I wish you would get me from the Bon
Marche half-a-dozen coloured tablecloths.
George has got a flat in Stratton Street.
I dined with him alone last night. We
went to a Music Hall after dinner and
heard Harry Lauder. His sister, Mrs
Campion, is in Paris. Perhaps you will
see her. Yesterday a lady came to the
office to interview him and saw me first,
a Mrs Housman. Have you ever heard
of her? I recognised her at once as the
subject of a picture by Walter Bell. Do
you remember a large picture of a lady in
white playing the piano ? Such a clever
picture. I saw it in New York at Altheim's
shop, but I believe it was exhibited years
ago at the New Gallery. Well, she is far
B 17
Passing By
more beautiful than the picture. She is
not really tall, but she looks tall, with a
wonderful walk, but I can't describe her,
she makes other people look unreal — like
wax-works. She was dressed anyhow
and rather shabbily in black, wearing no
gloves but the most beautiful ring I have
ever seen, a kind of double monogram,
probably old French. She came on
business. I wonder who she is. She
is not a foreigner and not, I think, an
American, but she is, looks and talks,
especially talks, not like an English-
woman.
I shall try to come to Paris for Easter.
Don't forget the tablecloths.
Yours,
GtlY.
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, March \st.
I dined last night with the Housmans.
They were alone except for Solway, and
after dinner we had some music. Solway
played the Schumann Variations and then
he asked Mrs Housman to sing. I hadn't
heard her for a long time as she hardly
ever will sing now. She sang Willst du
dein Herz mir schenken. Solway says
the song isn't by Bach really but by his
nephew. Then she sang a song from
Purcell's Dido, some Schubert ; among
others, Wer nie sein Brot, and the
Junge Nonne. Solway said he had
never heard the last better sung. Hous-
man then asked her to sing a song
from The Merry Widow, which she
did.
Housman plays himself by ear.
She did not allude to having been at
the office, nor did I.
19
Passing By
Tuesday, March 2nd.
Dined with Cunninghame at his flat
last night. A comfortable and luxurious
abode. I asked him if Ayton was likely
to marry. He laughed. He said he had
been in love for years, with a Mrs
Shamier. I had never heard of her.
Cunninghame said she was clever and
accomplished, and had been very pretty
and painted by all the painters.
He says A. will never marry. I asked
him if Mrs Shamier was in London. He
said of course. She has a husband who
is in Parliament, and several children ; a
country house on the south coast ; but
they are not particularly well off.
"You must come and meet her at
dinner," he said. " I am devoted to
her."
I asked him if she was fond of A.
" Not so much now, but she won't let
him go."
I went away early as C. was going to a
party.
20
Passing By
Wednesday, March ^rd.
Went to the British Museum before
going to the office, to look up an old
English tune for Mrs Housman from
Ford's Music of Sundry Kinds called The
Doleful Lover. I found it.
Thursday, March ^th.
Went to Solway's Chamber Music
Concert last night.
Brahms Quintet and a trio by Solway
himself. Some Brahms Lieder. The
Housmans were there. I thought Solway's
trio fine.
Friday, March ^th.
A. went to the country this afternoon
to stay with the Shamiers ; so C. said, but,
as a matter of fact, he told me he was
going to his own house. Cunninghame
is going away himself to-morrow. He
always goes away on Saturdays, he says.
I remain in London.
Saturday, March 6th.
Went to the London Library and got
some books for Sunday : Thais, by Anatole
21
Passing By
France, recommended to me by C. ; a
book called A Human Document, recom-
mended me by Mrs Housman. I do
not think I shall read any of them. The
only literature I read without difficulty is
The Times and Jane Eyre, and The Times
doesn't come out on Sunday.
Sunday Night, March "jth.
Called on the Housmans in the after-
noon. She was out. Luncheon at the
Club. Dinner at the Club. I began A
Human Document, but could not read
more than five pages of it. I couldn't
read any of the book by Anatole France.
Went to a concert in the afternoon. It
was not enjoyable.
Read Jane Eyre.
22
Letter from Guy Cunn'mghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, March 8M.
Dearest Elsie,
I meant to write you a
long letter yesterday from the country.
I went to stay with the Shamiers. I
thought, of course, George would be
there. He didn't come near the office on
Friday. He wasn't there and evidently
wasn't even expected.
Louise in tearing spirits and a new man
there called Lavroff, a Russian philosopher ;
youngish and talking English better than
any of us, except that he always said
" I have been seeing So-and-so to-day,"
"I have been to the concert yesterday."
Needless to say, I didn't have a
moment to write to you, in fact the only
place where I get time to write you a line
is at the office. Everything is appallingly
dull. Mellor, the Secretary, had dinner
23
Passing By
with me one night. He spoke a Httle
but not much. I think he is shy but not
stupid.
George likes being in London, but
Louise didn't mention him.. It's curious
if after all this fuss and trouble to get this
job and to be in London it all comes to
an end.
The tablecloths have arrived. Thank
you a thousand times. They are exactly
what I wanted. The curtains have
arrived too but they are a failure ; too
bright. I can't afford to get new ones
yet. This week I have got some dinners.
George said something about giving a
dinner this week.
Yours in great haste,
G.
24
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, March itk.
A. asked me whether if I was free on
Thursday I would dine with him. I said
I would be pleased to. He said he would
try and get a few people.
Tuesday, March ()th.
A. has got a Secretary called Tuke.
He writes all his private letters and he
comes down to the office in the mornings.
This morning he came and asked me Mrs
Housman's address. It is curious that he
should have applied to me and not to C,
as I was not here when she called, nor
does A. know that I know her. How
can he have known that I know her ?
Wednesday, March \oth.
Dined with Cunninghame last night at
his fiat. The guests were Mr and Mrs
Shamier, Miss Macdonald, C.'s cousin, M.
Lavroff, a Russian, and a Miss Hope. I sat
between the Russian and Miss Macdonald.
Miss Macdonald is an elderly lady, kind
25
Passing By
and agreeable. Mr Shamier, M.P., was
once, I believe, an athlete, a cricket Blue.
Miss Hope looked as if she were in fancy
dress ; Lavroff, the Russian, is unkempt,
with thick eyebrows and dark eyes.
Tolstoy was mentioned at dinner. Mrs
Shamier said he was her favourite novelist,
upon which Lavroff became greatly excited
and said the day would come when, the
world would perceive and be ashamed
of itself for perceiving that Tolstoy was
not worthy to lick Dostoyevsky's boots.
Being asked my opinion I was obliged
to confess that I had read the works of
neither novelist. Miss Macdonald asked
me who was my favourite novelist. I
said Charlotte Bronte. She said she
shared my preference and couldn't read
Russian books, they depressed her. After
dinner we had some music. Miss Hope
sang and accompanied herself. She sang
songs by Faure and Hahn ; among others
La Prison. She altered the text of the
last line, and instead of singing " Qu'as tu
26
Passing By
fait de ta jeunesse ? " she rendered it —
" Qu'as tu fait dans ta jeunesse ? " : scarcely
an improvement. When she had finished
Lavroff was asked to play. He consented
immediately and played some folk songs.
Athough he is in no sense a pianist, they
were beautifully played.
Thursday, March wth.
Had dinner last night with Admiral
Bowes in Hyde Park Gardens. The only
people there besides myself were Colonel
Hamley and Grayson, who is, they say, a
rising M. P. The Admiral said his nephew,
Bowes in the F.O. (whom I know a little),
had become a Roman Catholic.
"What on earth made him do that?"
said Colonel Hamley.
" Got hold of by the priests," said the
Admiral ; and they all echoed the phrase :
" Got hold of by the priests" and passed
on to other topics.
I have often wondered what the process
of being "got hold of by the priests"
consists of, and where and how it happens.
27
Passing By
Friday, March 12 th.
Dined last night with A. at his flat.
I was surprised to meet Mr and Mrs
Housman. The hostess was A.'s sister,
Mrs Campion. She is a deal older than
he is, a widow and good company. There
was also a Mrs Braham, and a younger
man called Clive. He is in a bank and
is, I believe, a useful man in a sailing boat.
I sat between Mrs Campion and Mrs
Housman.
After dinner A. said to Mrs Housman
that, knowing she liked music, he had
provided her with a musical treat. Mrs
Braham would sing to us. She sang,
accompanying herself, The Garden of
Sleep, The Silver Ring, MMsande in
the Wood, and, by special request. The
Little Grey Home in the West. There was
no other music.
Saturday, March i^th.
Had tea with the Housmans. They
asked me to dinner next Tuesday to meet
A. Mrs Housman says that Mrs Campion
28
Pass ing B y
is one of the rnqst charming and amusing
people she has ever met. C. is staying in
London. This Saturday A. is going to
his house in the country. He has a small
house on the coast near Littlehampton,
where he keeps his yacht, but, of course,
he cannot yacht yet. He has a large
house in Sussex which is let.
Sunday Night, March \\th.
Went down to Woking to spend the
day with Solway in his cottage. He is
composing a Sonata for piano and violin.
He played me the first movement. He
said he thought there was a certain amount
of good music being composed at the
present day which nobody was taking
notice of, but which would probably come
into its own some day. He said Mrs
Housman was the singer who gave him
the most pleasure. He said : " Her
singing is business-like. She is divinely
musical."
29
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Sunday, March i^tk.
Dearest Elsie,
I have been spending a
perfect Saturday to Monday in London.
I have had a busy week and was glad to
see no one and do nothing all to-day,
that is to say, comparatively no one
and nothing, as I went to the play on
Saturday night, and to-day I went to a
large luncheon party at Alice's, who is
back at Bruton Street. The news is
that the Shamier episode is over, quite,
quite over. There is no doubt about it.
She is madly in love with Lavroff. I
don't wonder. He is so intelligent and
plays wonderfully. As for George, I don't
think he cares. You will at once ask if
there is no one else. Nobody that I know
of I don't know who he sees and what
he does. He hates going out, and talks
every day of giving a dinner at his flat,
30
Passing By
but as far as I know he hasn't entertained
a cat yet.
I dined out every night last week, and
gave one dinner at my flat. I think it was a
success. Freda Macdonald, Louise, Lavroff
and Eileen Hope, who sang quite beauti-
fully. I asked Godfrey Mellor, but I really
don't know if I can ask him again to that
sort of party as he didn't utter a word.
Freda liked him. But it does ruin a
dinner to have a gulf of silence in the
middle of it, especially as when he does
talk he can be quite agreeable. George
has gone down to the country. His sister
is here now, but she goes north next week.
I believe London bores him to death and
he is longing for the summer and for his
yacht, I am sorry you can tell me nothing
of Mrs Housman. I haven't seen or heard
anything more of her.
Thank you very much for the langues
de chat. They added to the success of
my dinner. Yours, etc.,
Guy.
31
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, March idth.
I asked C. where he got his cigarettes.
He said he got them from a little man
who lived behind the Haymarket. Every-
body seems to get their cigarettes and
their shirts from a "little man." The
little man apparently never lives in a
street but always behind a street.
My new piano, a Cottage Broadwood,
arrived to-day. It is bought on the three
years' system.
Tuesday, March T^th.
Dined with my Aunt Ruth and Uncle
Arthur last night, in Eccleston Square.
A large dinner-party : a Permanent Under-
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the French
Charge d'Affaires and his wife, the
Editor of The Whig and his wife. Lord
and Lady Saint-Edith, Professor Miles,
Sir Herbert Wilmott and Lady Wilmott^
Mr Julius K. Lee of the American
32
Pass ing By
Embassy, and Mrs Lovell-Smythies, the
novelist.
As we were all waiting for dinner in the
dark library downstairs a Miss Magdalen
Cross came in late, carrying a book in her
hand. " This book," she said to us all, " is
well worth reading." It was a German
novel by Sudermann. An old lady who
was standing next to her, and who I
afterwards discovered was the widow of
the Bishop of Exminster, said: "You
prepared that entry in your cab, dear
Magdalen." Miss Cross blushed. I
took her in to dinner. She talked of
sculpture, the Chinese nation, German
novels, and Russian music. She has
been three times round the world. She
has no liking for most German music and
cannot abide Brahms. She likes Wagner,
Chopin, Russian Church music and Spanish
songs. On the other side I had the wife
of the French Charg^ d'Affaires. She
said : " J 'adore I'odeur des paquets anglais."
Her favourite English author, she said,
c 33
Passing By
was Mrs Humphry Wood. I did not like
to ask her if she meant Mrs Humphry
Ward or Mrs Henry Wood. She said
the works of this novelist made her weep.
When we were left in the dining-room
after dinner, L'ord Saint-Edith, Professor
Miles and Hallam (of The Whig) had a
long argument about some lines in Dante,
and this led them to the Baconian theory.
Lord Saint- Edith said he couldn't under-
stand people thinking Bacon had written
Shakespeare's plays. If they said Shake-
speare had written the works of Bacon
as a pastime he could understand it. He
believed Homer was written by Homer.
The Professor was paradoxical and said
he thought the Odyssey was a forgery.
"Tacitus," he said, "was known to be
one.
After dinner upstairs there was tea but
no music. Uncle Arthur is growing very
deaf and forgetful and asked me how I
was getting on at Balliol.
Aunt Ruth told me she had asked my
34
Passing By
new chief to dinner, but that he had
refused. "Of course," she said, "this is
not the kind of house he would find amus-
ing. But considering how well I knew
his father I think it would be only civil
for him to come to one of my Thursday
evenings."
Wednesday, March 11 th.
I dined at the Housmans' last night.
It was a dinner for A. He was the guest
of the evening. To meet him there were
Lady Maria Lyneham, who must be over
seventy ; a French lady of imposing
presence called, if I caught the name
correctly, the Princesse de Carignan and
who, Housman whispered to me, was a
Bourbon, and if she had her rights would
be Queen of France to-day ; a secretary
from the Italian Embassy; Mr and Mrs
Baines. Mr Baines is an official at the
British Museum and is half French. His
wife, he told me, had once been taken for
Sarah Bernhardt. There were several
other people : Sir Herbert Simcox, the
35
Passing By
K.C., and Lady Simcox, an art critic, a
lady journalist and Miss Housman.
A. sat between Mrs Housman and Lady
Simcox. Housman had the Princesse de
Carignan on his right and Lady Maria
on his left. I sat between Lady Maria
and Miss Housman. Lady Maria told
me she dined out whenever she could,
and asked me to luncheon on Sunday.
"Don't come," she said, "if you mind
meeting lions ; I like pleasant people.
Only I warn you I have an old-fashioned
prejudice for good manners and I always
ask their wives."
Mr Baines talked beautiful French to
the Princesse. Lady Maria told me she
was neither French nor a princess, but the
illegitimate daughter of a Levantine.
"But very respectable all the same, I'm
afraid," she added.
After dinner a few people came. Among
others, Housman's partner and Esther
Lake, the contralto. She sang (she
brought her own accompanist) some
36
Passing By
Handel and Che faro and, by request of
Mr Housman, Gounod's There is a Green
Hill.
I drove home with A. He told me he
had enjoyfed himself immensely and he
thought Esther Lake was the finest singer
in the world.
He said Miss Housman was a very
clever woman and Housman appeared to
be quite a good sort.
He said he liked this kind of dinner-
party.
Thursday, March i&(A.
The first day there has been a feeling
of spring in the air. I went to St James's
Park on the way to the office.
Dined at the Club.
Friday, March igtk.
A. asked me to spend Sunday with him
in the country. I told him I was sorry I
was engaged to go out to luncheon on
Sunday. He said I must come the week
after.
57
Passing By
Saturday, March loth.
C. said it was a great pity A. did not
go out more. He used to go out a great
deal, he said. " I suppose," he added,
"it's because he doesn't wast to meet
Mrs Shamier." I said I thought C. had
told me he was fond of her. "Yes,"
said C, "he was very fond of her, but
that is all over now."
Sunday Evening, March 2 \st.
I went to St Paul's Cathedral in the
morning. Then to luncheon with Lady
Maria in her house in Seymour Place.
A curious luncheon. There were two
actors and their wives. Father Seton, and
Mr Le Roy, who writes detective stories,
and his wife, and Sir James Croker.
I sat next to Mrs Le Roy, who is, she
told me, a Greek. She told me her
husband had written one hundred and ten
books, but that she had read none of them.
She said it worried him if she read them.
She said it was a great sacrifice as she
38
Passing By
doted on detective stories and was told
his were very good. The actors, who
were both actor managers, told us about
their forthcoming productions. Mr Vane
said there was going to be a real panther
in his next production (a Shakespearean
revival). Mr Jones Acre is producing a
play which is translated from the Swedish,
and which deals with the question of a
man who has inoculated himself and his
whole family with a fatal disease, in the
interests of science.
Father Seton took a great interest in
the stage, and said he considered the
Church and the stage should be close
allies. The clergy took far too little
interest in these things. It was a pity,
he said, to let the Romans have the
monopoly of that kind of thing. This
surprised Mrs Le Roy, who said she
thought he was a Roman Catholic. He
laughed and said Rome would have to
capitulate on many points before any idea
of corporate reunion could be entertained.
39
Pass in g B \
Sir James Croker told stories of early
days in the Foreign Office and Lord
Palmerston.
We sat on talking until half-past three.
I then went home and read Jane Eyre.
40
Letter from Guy Gunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Halkin Street,
March i$th.
Dearest Elsie,
I start on Thursday and
shall arrive Thursday evening. I have
got rooms at the Ritz. Let us have
dinner together Thursday night, and not
go to a play. I shall stay in Paris a week
and then go for four days to Mentone,
Then I shall come back to Paris for three
days, and then home. I suppose we shall
have to dine at the Embassy one night.
George is going to the country for Easter
with his sister. I want a really nice screen
(a small one). You must help me to find
one, not too dear. I also want something
for the dining-room, which at present is
too bare.
I won't write any more now.
Yours,
G.
41
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Sunday, March 2^tk. Hotel St Romain, Rue St
Roch, Paris
Went to a concert at the Cirque d'EU
this afternoon, not a very interesting
programme. A great deal of Wagner,
and L ' Apres-midi cCttn Faune.
Dined by myself at a Duval. Start for
Florence to-morrow morning.
Tuesday, March ^oih. Villa Fersen, Florence
Arrived this morningf before luncheon
after an exhausting journey second-class.
In the carriage there was a soldier belong-
ing to the Garde RJpublicaine. He said
he was on duty at the Opera and had he
known I was passing through Paris he
could have given me a billet de faveiir.
The Housmans' villa is at the top of
a hill on the Bellosguardo side. It is
rather a large house, covered with wistaria,
with high windows with iron bars. It has
a large empty salon with a piano. A
42
Passing By
fine room for sound. The garden is
beautiful.
fVednesday, March 31s f.
I walked down into Florence very early
in the morning. I reached the town
before anything was open and met a party
of men in shorts and flannels running
back to a hotel. They were Eton masters
taking exercise. I didn't go to any picture
galleries, but I walked about the streets
and went into the Duomo, an ugly build-
ing inside. I got back for luncheon.
Housman said that they must leave
cards in the afternoon and take a drive in
the Cascine. They went out in a carriage
and pair. I went for a walk to the Boboli
Gardens. At dinner Housman said they
had met several friends, and he is giving
a dinner-party on Sunday.
Thursday, April ist.
The Housmans took me to luncheon with
a banker called Baron Strong. What the
explanation of this title is I do not know.
They live in the modern part of the town.
43
Pa s sing By
He was a genial host, portly, with long
white whiskers. His wife, the Baroness,
an Italian, a distinguished lady. There
were present a Marchese whose real name
I was told was Goldschmidt, and his wife,
a retired and talkative English diplomatist,
a Russian lady, an Italian, who talked
English, French and Russian with ease,
called Scalchi, Professor Johnston- Wright,
who is spending his holiday here, and
a Frenchman. When the latter heard
Scalchi talk every language successively
he said to him: " Vous etes une petite
tour de Babel."
In the afternoon we left cards at several
houses and villas and then went for a drive
in the Cascine. Some people called at
tea-time, but I escaped. After dinner
Mrs Housman sang some Schumann,
FrUhlingsnacht, and the Dichterliebe.
These songs, she said, suit Florence.
Friday, April '2nd.
I had a talk with the Italian gardener
as far as my Italian permitted me to. I
44
Pass ing By
pointed out a plant, a mauve-coloured
plant, I don't know its name, that seemed
to grow in great profusion. He said :
" Fiorisce come il pensiere dell' uomo."
More calls in the afternoon, and another
drive in the Cascine.
Housman has bought a large modern
statue representing The Triumph of Truth,
a female figure carrying a torch, with a
serpent at her feet. She is triumphing,
I suppose, over the snake.
Saturday, April ^rd.
We went to see the Easter Saturday
ceremony at the Duomo, and then to
luncheon at the Villa Michael Angelo. It
belongs to a rich American called Fisk.
There were present besides Mr and Mrs
Fisk an English authoress, a picture
connoisseur, Scalchi, an American archae-
ologist, an Italian man of letters, and a
Miss Sinclair, also an archaeologist.
Housman said afterwards this was the
cream of intellectual Florence.
45
Pass ing By
I sat between two archaeologists. I
found their conversation difficult to follow.
After luncheon we called on the British
Consul's wife, whose day it was. Then
after a drive in the Cascine we went home.
Easter Sunday, April \th.
Mrs Housman went to Mass early.
Went for a walk with Housman. On the
Ponte Vecchio we met Ayton and his sister,
Mrs Campion. Mrs Campion, he said, had
insisted on him taking her to Florence.
Housman asked them to dinner to-night ;
they accepted. A great many people
came to tea.
The dinner-party to-night was quite
a large one. Baron and Baroness Strong,
Lord Ayton, Mrs Campion, Mr and Mrs
Fisk, Scalchi and the Marchese and his
wife, whom we met lately. I sat between
Mrs Campion and Baron Strong. After
dinner Mrs Fisk played Chopin with
astonishing facility, but without any ex-
pression.
46
Passing By
A. intends to stay here another fortnight.
Housman said he received a telegram
which will necessitate his meeting his
partner at Genoa. His partner is on the
way to the Riviera. He may have to go
to Paris too, but he hopes not, and intends
to be back in a few days if possible.
Monday, April ^th.
Housman left to-day for Genoa. I
went with Mrs Housman to San Marco
and the Accademia in the morning. In
the afternoon to the Certosa with Mrs
Housman, A. and Mrs Campion.
Tuesday, April 6th.
Mrs Campion and A. came to luncheon.
Mrs Campion, who is an expert gardener,
told me the names of all the flowers in the
garden. They have not remained in my
mind.
Wednesday, April 1th.
We all spent a morning sight-seeing
and had luncheon at a restaurant. In the
afternoon we drove to Fiesole.
47
Passing By
Thursday, April ^th.
Housman is not coming back. He is
obliged to go to Paris and he will go
straight to London from there.
We drove to Fiesole in the morning.
Had luncheon with some Italian friends
of Mrs Campion, Count and Countess
Alberti. Nobody there except the host
and hostess and their three children. A
fine villa and no garden. Countess
Alberti said it was no use having a
garden if one lived here in summer, as
everything dried up. She is a charming
woman, natural and unpretentious, and
talks English like an Englishwoman.
She asked A. if he had met many
people, and A. said he was a tourist and
had no time for visits. Countess Alberti
said he was quite right and that she knew
nothing in the world more — seccante was
the word she used, than Florentine
society.
She asked us all to come agfain next
week. I am leaving on Sunday, and A.
48
Passing By
and Mrs Campion are going to Paris on
Monday. Mrs Housman remains here
another week.
Friday, April gth.
Mrs Housman hadaheadacheanddidnot
come down. I went to the town and did
some shopping and went over the Bargello.
Mrs Housman came down to dinner and
sang afterwards, Schubert, Schumann and
Brahms. I had never heard her sing
Versenk o versenk dein Leid mein
Kind, in die See before.
Saturday, April loth.
We went to a great many churches in
the morning and saw a number of frescoes.
Mrs Housman received a great many
invitations, but refused them all. A.
and Mrs Campion and the Albertis
came to dinner. Countess Alberti per-
suaded Mrs Housman to sing. She sang
some English songs : Passing By, Lord
Randall, etc., Gounod's Chanson de
Mai, and some Lully. Countess Alberti
D 49
Pass ing B y
said it was a comfort to hear singing of
which you could hear every word. A.
Hked Passing By best, and he made her
sing it twice. He asked me who the
words were by. The tune is Edward
Purcell's. The words, although generally
attributed to Herrick by musical pub-
lishers, are by an anonymous poet, and
occur in Thomas Ford's Music of Sundry
Kinds, 1607. They are as follows : —
There is a ladye sweet and kind,
Was never face so pleas'd my mind,
I did but see her passing by,
And yet I love her till I die.
Her gestures, motions, and her smile,
Her wit, her voice my heart beguile,
Beguile my heart, I know not why ;
And yet I love her till I die.
There is also a third stanza.
50
Letters from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Villa Beau Site,
Mentone,
Thursday, April iih.
Dearest Elsie,
It is divine here and this
villa is a dream. We went to Monte
Carlo yesterday and I won 300 francs
and then lost it again. I saw hundreds
of people, monde and demi-monde. Among
the latter Celia Russell, having luncheon
with rather a gross-looking shiny financier.
I asked who he was and found out that
he was Housman of Housman & Smith.
Apparently C. R. has been living with
him for some time, ever since, in fact,
L. went to India. But the interesting
thing to me is that Housman is the
husband of that beautiful Mrs Housman
I told you about. M. knows them and
knows all about them. Mrs Housman
was a Canadian, very poor, with no one
51
Passing By
to look after her but an old aunt. He
married her about ten years ago. Since
then he has become very rich. Carrington-
Smith is now his partner. Housman
supplies the brains. They live some-
where in the suburbs and she never
goes anywhere.
I am not coming back till next Monday.
I shall be able to stop two or three days
in Paris, very likely longer.
Yours,
G.
Halkin Street,
Sunday, May gth.
Dearest Elsie,
I have had a busy week
since I have been back. Monday I dined
with George at his flat. A man's dinner
to meet some French politicians who are
over here for a few days. I told you I
was determined to make Mrs Housman's
acquaintance, and I have. I had luncheon
on Tuesday with Jimmy Randall, a city
52
Passing By
friend of mine. You don't know him.
■ He knows the Housmans intimately. I
told him I wanted to know them and
he asked me to meet them last night.
We dined at the Carlton, Randall, the
Housmans and myself I think she is
even more beautiful than I thought before.
I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was
in black, with one row of very good pearls.
I never saw such eyes. Housman is too
awful ; sleek, fat and common beyond
words, but sharp as a needle. He has an
extraordinary laugh, a high, nasal chuckle,
and says, " Ha ! ha ! ha ! " after every
sentence. They have asked me to dinner
next Tuesday. I will write to you about it
in detail. Mrs H. is charming. There is
nothing American or Colonial about her,
but she is curiously un-English. I can't
understand how she can have married
him. I caught sight of her again this
morning at the Oratory, where I always
go if I am in London on Sundays, for the
music. Randall told me she is very
53
Passing By
musical, but I didn't get any speech with
her.
The flat looks quite transformed with
all the Paris things. They are the
greatest success.
Yours,
G.
Wednesday, May 12 th.
Dearest Elsie,
The dinner-party came
off last night. They live in Campden Hill.
I was early and the parlour-maid said
Mrs Housman would be down directly,
and I heard Housman shouting upstairs :
"Clare, Clare, guests," but he did not
appear himself I was shown into a large
white and heavily gilded drawing-room,
with a candelabra, a Steinway grand, and
light blue satin and ebony furniture, a
good many palms, but no flowers. The
drawing-room opened out on to an Oriental
back drawing-room with low divans, small
stools inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and a
54
Passing By
silver lamp (from a mosque) hanging
from the ceiling, heavy curtains too,
behind which I suspect stained - glass
windows. Over the chimney-piece an
Alma Tadema (a group on a marble seat
against a violet sea). At the other end
of the room Walter Bell's picture. It was
the picture I saw before, but more about
that later. On another wall over a sofa
a most extraordinary allegorical picture :
a precipice bridged by a large serpent, and
walking on the serpent two small figures,
a woman in white draperies and a knight
dressed like Mephistopheles, all these
painted in the crudest colours. The
Housmans then appeared, and Housman
did the honours of the pictures, faintly
damned the Alma Tadema, and said the
Snake Picture was by Mucius of Munich
in what he called Moderne style. He had
picked it up for nothing ; some day it
would be worth pots of money. Ha ! ha !
Then the guests arrived. Sir Herbert
Simcox, K.C., Lady Simcox, dressed in
55
Passing By
amber velvet and cairngorms ; Housman's
sister Miss Sarah, black, and very large,
in yellow satin, with enormous emerald
ear-rings ; Carrington-Smith, Housman's
partner ; Mrs Carrington-Smith, naked
except for a kind of orange and red
Reform Kleid, with a green complexion,
heavily blacked eyebrows, and a Lalique
necklace. Then, making a late entrance,
as if on the stage, a Princesse de Carignan,
a fine figure, in rich and tight black satin
and a large black ruff, heavily powdered.
Housman whispered to me that she was
a leeitimate Bourbon. I think he meant
a Legitimist. We went down to dinner
into a dark Gothic panelled dining-room,
with a shiny portrait of Mr Housman set
in the panelling over the chimney-piece.
I sat between Mrs Housman and Mrs
Carrington-Smith. I talked to Mrs Hous-
man most of the time. Mrs Carrington-
Smith asked me if I liked Henry James's
books, I said I liked the early ones.
She said she preferred the later ones, but
56
Passing By
she could never feel quite the same about
Henry James again since he had put her
into a book. She was, she said, Kate in
The Wings of the Dove. After dinner
Housman moved up and sat next to me.
He talked about art and hric-h-brac. I
asked him if I could possibly have seen
Bell's portrait of Mrs Housman in America.
He said, "Certainly." He had bought it
cheap and sold it dear, anticipating a slump
in Bell, which was not slow in coming.
He had then bought it back directly Bell
died, anticipating a boom, which had also
occurred. " It is now worth double what
I gave for it. Ha ! ha ! ha ! "
Randall said he liked a picture to tell
a plain story and he could make nothing
of the Snake Picture upstairs. Housman
laughed loudly and said it was the oldest
story in the world : the man, the woman,
and the serpent. Ha! ha! We went
upstairs, where there was a crowd. I was
seized upon by the Princesse de Carignan,
and she whispered to me confidential
57
Pass ing By
secrets about Europe. She preened her-
self and displayed the deportment of a
queen in exile.
Then we had some music. Esther Lake
bawled some Rubinstein, and Ronald
Solway played an interminable sonata by
Haydn with variations and all the repeats.
Some of the guests went downstairs, but
I was wedged in between the Princesse
and a Mrs Baines, a fluffy, sinuous woman,
dressed in a loose Byzantine robe. Her
husband, who is an expert in French furni-
ture, told me she was once mistaken for
Sarah, and she has evidently been living up
to the reputation for years. He was careful
to add that it was in the days when Sarah
was thin — Mrs Baines being a wisp.
After the music, which I thought would
never stop, we went downstairs again for
a stand-up supper and sweet champagne.
I was introduced by Housman to Ronald
Solway. Housman told him I was a
musical connoisseur, so he bored me
with technicalities for twenty minutes. I
58
Pass ing By
couldn't get away. He had no mercy
on me. Housman has got a box at the
Opera. He told me I must use it when-
ever I like. How can she have married
that man ?
Yours,
G.
l¥ednesday. May 19M.
Dearest Elsie,
Thank you for your most
amusing letter. I have been busy and
not had a moment to write. We have
had a good deal of work to do. Last
Friday I had supper at Romano's after the
play. Housman was there with Celia
Russell. I spent Saturday to Monday
with the Shamiers. Lavroff was there.
Last night I went to the Opera to the
Housmans' box. It was Boheme. During
the entr'acte who should come into our
box but George. He stayed there the
whole time, talking to Mrs H., and came
back during the next entr'acte.
59
Passing By
The next day at the office when I was
in his room I said something about the
Housmans and began telling him about
my dinner. He froze at once and said
Mrs Housman was an extremely nice
woman. I said something about Housman,
and George said: "Oh, not at all a bad
fellow." So I saw I was on dangerous
ground. Housman has asked me to spend
next Sunday at his country house, a small
villa on the Thames near Staines. I am
going.
They are dining with me on Thursday.
I asked George, too, and he accepted
joyfully.
Yours,
G.
Monday, May z\th.
Dearest Elsie,
I am just back from the
country. But first I must tell you about
my dinner. I had asked the Housmans,
George, Eileen Hope, and Madame de
60
Passing By
Saint Luce who is staying in London for
three weeks. Just before dinner I got a
telegram saying that Mrs Housman was
laid up and couldn't possibly come. Hous-
man arrived by himself. George was
evidently frightfully annoyed and hardly
spoke. Madame de Saint Luce was
amazed and rather amused by Housman,
and after dinner Eileen sang beautifully,
so it went off fairly well except for
George.
Saturday I went down to Staines.
Housman had got an elegant villa on
the river. Very ugly, with red tiles,
photogravures, and green wooden chairs
and a conservatory, full of calceolaria.
But I must say his food is delicious.
George was there, Lady Jarvis, and
Miss Sarah.
After dinner on Saturday there was a
slight fracas. George asked Mrs Housman
to sing. She didn't much want to, but
finally said she would. Miss Sarah, who
is a brilliant pianist, said she would
6i
P as si ng B\
accompany her (she evidently hates being
accompanied). She sang a song of
Schubert's, Gute Nacht. Miss Sarah
played it rather fast. Mrs Housman
said it ought to be slower. Miss Sarah
said it was meant to be fast, and that
was her conception of the song in any
case.
Mrs Housman said she couldn't sing it
like that, and didn't, and then she said
she couldn't sing at all. Afterwards she
did sing some English ballads and accom-
panied herself.
She sings most beautifully, her voice
is perfectly produced and you hear every
word. There is nothing throaty or
operatic about it but her voice goes
straight through one. George was en-
tranced. Sunday afternoon George and
Mrs H. went out on the river and stayed
out all the afternoon. I spent the after-
noon with Lady Jarvis, who is most clever
and amusing. She told me all about the
Housmans. Mrs H. is not Canadian but
62
Pass ing By
Irish. She was brought up in a convent
in French Canada. Directly she came
out of it her marriage with H., who was
then in a Canadian firm, was arranged by
her aunt (her aunt was an imbecile and
quite penniless). They lived several years
in Canada, California and other parts of
America, and came to England about
three years ago. Housman was unfaith-
ful from the first. Lady Jarvis knew
about Celia Russell. I asked her if Mrs
Housman knew. She said she — Lady
Jarvis — didn't know, but it wouldn't
make any difference if Mrs H. did or
not. She said : " There is nothing about
Albert Housman that Clare doesn't know."
Then she said that unless I was blind I
must of course have seen George was
madly in love with her.
I said I agreed. She said she thought
Mrs Housman was madly in love with
him. I said I wasn't sure. Lady Jarvis
said she was quite sure.
They came back very late from the
63
Passing By
river and Mrs Housman didn't come
down to dinner. She said she had a
headache. We had rather a gloomy
dinner although Miss Sarah and Lady
Jarvis never stopped talking for a moment,
but George was silent.
You know he sees nobody now except
the Housmans.
Yours,
G.
64
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, May j,rd. Gray's Inn.
A. returned to London a day sooner than
he was expected. His Secretary, Tuke,
had not returned. He had left his address
with me. He spent his holiday in the
Guest House, Fort Augustus Abbey, a
Benedictine monastery. He returned
this morning. A. asked me on Saturday
where he was. When I told him, A.
showed great surprise. He said : " He
has been with me six years and I never
knew he was an R.C. It's extraordinary
when a thing once turns up, you then
meet with it every day. I seem always
to be coming across Catholics now."
Tuesday, May i^th.
Alfred Riley telegraphed to me to
know whether I could put him up to-
night. I have answered in the affirma-
tive, but he will be, I fear, most
uncomfortable.
E 65
P as s i ng B y
Wednesday, May ^th.
Riley arrived last night. He has been
in Paris for the last three months working
at the Bihliotheque Nationale. He told
me he had something of importance to
tell me : that he was seriously thinking
of becoming a Roman Catholic. I was
greatly surprised. He was the last person
I would expect to do such a thing. I told
him I had no prejudice against Roman
Catholics, but it was very difficult for me
to believe that a man of his intellectual
attainments could honestly believe the
things he would be expected to believe.
Also, if he needed a Church I did not
understand why he could not be satisfied
with the Church of England, which was
a historic Church. He said : " Do you
remember when we were at Oxford that
we used to say it would be a great sell if
we found out when we were dead that
Christianity was true after all .-' Well,
I believe it is true. I believe, not in
spite of my reason, nor against my reason,
66
Pa s sing By
nor apart from my reason, but with my
reason. Well, if one believes with one's
reason in the Christian revelation, that is
to say, if one believes that God has uttered
Himself fully and uniquely through Christ,
such a belief has certain logical conse-
quences." I said nothing, for indeed I did
not know what to say. Riley laughed
and said : " Don't be alarmed ; don't think
I am going to hand you a tract. For
Heaven's sake let me be able to speak
out at least to one person about this."
I begged him to go on, and he said he
thought Catholicism was the only logical
consequence of a belief in the Christian
revelation. Anglicanism and all forms
of Protestantism seemed to him like the
lopped off branches of a living tree.
I asked him what there was to prevent
him worshipping in Roman Catholic
churches if he felt inclined that way with-
out sacrificing his intellectual freedom to
their tenets.
He said : " You talk as if it was ritual
67
Passing By
I cared for and wanted. One can be
glutted with ritual in the Anghcan Church
if one wants that."
As for giving up one's freedom, he
said I must agree that law, order and
discipline were the indispensable con-
ditions of freedom. He had never heard
Catholics complain of any loss of freedom,
indeed Catholic philosophy, manners,
customs, and even speech, seemed to him
much freer than Protestant or Agnostic
philosophy, and what it stood for. He
asked me which I thought was freest,
a Sunday in Paris or Rome or a Sunday
in Glasgow or London.
I suggested his waiting a year. He
said perhaps he would.
Thursday, May dth.
Riley talked of music, Wagner, Parsifal.
He quoted some Frenchman who said that
Parsifal was " moins beau que nimporte
quelle Messe Basse dans nimporte quelle
Eglise." I said that I had never been to
68
Pass ing By
a Low Mass in my life, but that I disliked
the music at most High Masses I had
attended. I said I disliked Wagner, especi-
ally Parsifal. He said he agreed about
Wagner, but I did not understand what
the Frenchman had meant. I confessed
I did not. He said : " It is like com-
paring a description of something to the
reality." I told him that I envied people
who were born Catholics, but I did not
think it was a thing you could become.
He said it was not like becoming a
Mussulman. He was simply going back
to the older tradition of his country, to
what Melanchthon and Dr Johnson called
and what in the Highlands they still call
the Old Religion. I told him that I had
once heard a man say, talking of becom-
ing a Roman Catholic, "if I could tell
the first lie, all the rest would be easy and
follow naturally down to scapulars and
Holy Water."
Friday, May •]th.
Riley left this morning. He has gone
69
Passing By
back to Paris. He is not going to take
any immediate step.
Sunday, May ()ih
I went to see Mrs Housman yesterday
afternoon. I told her what Riley had
told me. I asked her if she thought
people could become Roman Catholics if
they were not born so. She said she
wished that she had not been born a
Catholic so as she might have become
one. She envied those who could make
the choice. I asked her if she did not
consider there was something unreal about
converts. She said she thought English
converts were in a very difficult situation
which required the utmost tact. Many
perhaps lacked this tact. She said that
in Canada and America, where she had
lived most of her life, the anti-Catholic
prejudice as it existed in England did
not exist, at any rate it was not of the
same kind. "The nursery anti-Catholic
tradition doesn't exist there."
She asked me what I had advised
70
Passing By
Riley to do. I told her I had dissuaded
him from taking such a step and had
begged hirn to wait. She said: "If he
is to become a Catholic there will be a
moment when he will not be able to help
it. Faith is a gift. People do not become
Catholics under the influence of people
or books, although people and books may
sometimes help or sometimes hinder, but
because they are pulled over by an invisible
rope — -what we call Grace."
I told her I would find it difficult to
believe that a man like Riley would believe
what he would have to believe. She
asked me whether I found it difficult
to believe that she accepted the dogmas
of the Church. I said I was convinced
she believed what she professed, but that
I thought that born Catholics believed
things in a different way than we did. I
did not believe that this could be learnt
by converts.
She said I probably thought that
Catholics believed all sorts of things
71
Passing By
which they did not beHeve. Such at least
was her experience of English Protestants,
who seemed to imbibe curious traditions
in the nursery, on the subject.
I asked her if Mr Housman believed in
Catholic dogma. She said : " Albert has
been baptized and brought up as a Catholic,
but he is an Agnostic. He is very
charitable towards Catholic institutions."
She asked me more about Riley and
whether he had any Catholic friends. I
said : " Not to my knowledge." " Poor
man, I am afraid he will be very lonely,"
she said.
She said that she herself knew hardly
any Catholics in England, that is to saj'
she had no real Catholic friends, and that
she felt as if she were living in perpetual
exile.
"You see," she said, "your friend
ought to realise that he will have to face
the prejudice and the dislike not only of
narrow-minded people but of very nice
intelligent and broad-minded people, who
72
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agree with you about almost everything
else. The Church has always been hated
from the beginning, and it always will be
hated. In the past it was people like
Marcus Aurelius who carried out the
worst persecutions and hated the Church
most bitterly with the very best inten-
tions, and it is in a different way just the
same now."
I said that to me it was an impossible
mental gymnastic to think that Catholicism
was the same thing as early Christianity.
She said : " Because the tree has grown
so big you think it is not the same plant,
but it is. When I go to Mass I feel as if
I were looking through the wrong end of
a telescope right back into the catacombs
and farther."
I told her Riley would take no decisive
step. He had promised to wait. She
said there was no harm in that. There
were many other things I wished to ask
her, but A. arrived, and after talking on
various topics for a few moments I left.
73
Pass ing By
Monday, May \oth.
A. told me he had been invited to
dinner by Aunt Ruth next Thursday
and that he was going. He asked me
whether I was invited. I said I was
invited.
Tuesday, May nth.
Cunninghame said he was dining at the
Housmans' to-night.
Wednesday, May 12th.
I asked C. whether he had enjoyed his
dinner. He said it was very pleasant,
but that the music was too classical for
his taste. A. was not there.
Thursday, May \j,th.
I dined last night with A. in his flat.
Nobody but ourselves. A. played the
pianola after dinner. He said I must
come and stay with him in the country
soon. He would try and get the Hous-
mans to come too,
Friday, May \\th.
A. dined with Uncle Arthur and Aunt
Ruth. So did I. It was a dinner for the
74
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American Ambassador. I sat next to a
Miss Audrey Bax, a lady of decided views
and picturesque appearance. She talked
about Joan of Arc, and asked me whether
I had read Anatole France's book about
her. I said I had not, but I had read an
English translation of Joan of Arc's trial
which I thought one of the most impressive
records I had ever read. She said : " Ah,
you like the stained-glass-window point of
view about those sort of people." I was
rather nettled and said I preferred facts
to fiction. I thought Joan of Arc as she
appeared in her trial was a very sensible
as well as being a very remarkable person.
She had not read this. She said Anatole
France told one all one wanted to know
from a rational point of view. It was a
comfort to read common-sense about this
sort of hallucinated people. A man who
was sitting opposite her joined eagerly in
the conversation, and said that the two
people in the whole of history who had
made the finest defence when tried were
75
Pas sing B y
Mary Queen of Scots and Joan of Arc.
Miss Bax said she supposed he looked
upon Mary Queen of Scots as a martyred
saint. The other man, whose name I
found out afterwards was Ashfield, an
American who is now at the American
Embassy, said that he regarded Mary
Queen of Scots as a woman who was
tried for her life and who had defended
herself without lawyers without making
a single mistake under the most difficult
circumstances. He said he had been a
lawyer, and spoke from a lawyer's point
of view. Miss Bax went back to Joan
of Arc and Anatole France and said his
book was as important a work as Renan's
Vie de Jtfsus. Mr Ashfield said he thought
that work no improvement on the Gospel.
I said 1 had not read it. Miss Bax aorain
said that if we preferred sentimental tradi-
tions we were at liberty to do so. She
preferred rational writers untainted by
superstition. Ashfield said he regarded
Renan as a sentimental writer. Miss
76
Passing By
Bax said : " No doubt you prefer Dean
Farrar." Ashfield said he did not think
Renan's book was a more successful
attempt to rewrite the Gospels than Dean
Farrar's although it was better written.
She said that proved her point, and as
she seemed satisfied, we talked of other
things. But throughout her conversation
she struck me for a professed free-thinker
to be singularly dogmatic and sometimes
almost fanatical,
Saturday, May it,th.
Spent the afternoon and evening with Sol-
way at Woking but came back after dinner.
Sunday, May i6ih.
Went to see Mrs Housman in the after-
noon, but she was not at home. This is
the first time she has not been at home on
Sunday afternoons for a very long time.
Monday, May 1.1th.
A. said he was going to the opera
to-night. Housman, whom he had seen
yesterday, had told him it would be a very
fine performance.
77
Pass ing By
Tuesday, May iSth.
Went to the opera in the gallery. Some
fine singing. Cunninghame had been in
the Housmans' box.
IVednesday, May \<^th.
Was going to dine with the Housmans
to-night, but Mrs Housman is unwell.
Thursday, May 20th.
Lady Jarvis has asked me to stay with
her Sunday week.
Friday, May 21st
This morning a man called Barnes came
to the office. He is an acquaintance of
Cunninghame's ; he is in the F.O. He
talked of various things, and then he
asked Cunninghame whether he knew
Mrs Housman. He said she was playing
fast and loose with A.'s affections. She
was doing it, of course, to convert him.
Catholics didn't mind how immoral thfiy
were in such a cause. He said that she
was well known for it. She had refused
to marry Housman till he had been con-
verted. He had been so much in love
78
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with her that he could not refuse. I said
that I happened to know that Housman
had been baptized a Catholic when he
was born. Cunninghame bore me out
and said it was all nonsense about A. He
was sure Catholicism had nothing to do
with it. He knew Mrs Housman quite
well and she had never mentioned it to
him. Barnes said we could say what
we liked, but all London was talking of
A.'s unfortunate passion and Mrs H.'s
behaviour.
" One sees them everywhere together,"
he said.
C. said : " Where ? "
Barnes said : " Oh, at all the restaurants
and at the opera."
Cunninghame said he had expected
Mrs Housman to dinner, but she had
been unable to come.
Saturday, May zind.
Called on Mrs Housman to inquire.
They have gone to the country until
Monday.
79
Passing By
Monday, May 2\th.
I had luncheon with A. to-day at his
flat. He said he had been staying with
the Housmans at their house on the
Thames. He said he had put his foot in
it. On Saturday night at dinner they
were talking about Ireland, and he said
he had no wish to go to a country full of
priests. Mrs Housman told him, laugh-
ing, she was a Catholic. He asked me if
I had known this. I told him I had always
known it. He asked me whether she was
very devout. I said I knew she always
went to Mass on Sundays, that she had
never mentioned the subject to me except
once when I asked her a question with
reference to a friend of mine. He asked
me whether Housman was a Catholic too.
I told him what I knew.
Tuesday, May 2^th.
Went to the opera, in the Housmans'
box. Housman and Cunninghame were
there. Mrs Housman did not come. A.
looked in during the oiir'acie.
80
Passing By
Wednesday, May 26th.
A. gave a dinner at his Club. All
politicians exceptmyself and Cunninghame.
Thursday, May 2,'jth.
Tuke asked me to take a ticket for
a concert at Hammersmith at which his
sister is performing on the piano. I have
done so.
Friday, May z%th.
Luncheon with A. at his Club. He is
staying with Lady Jarvis on Saturday.
The Housmans, he said, will be there.
Cunninghame is going also. A. told me
Mrs Housman has not been well lately.
I said I thought she did too much. He
asked me in what sort of way. I said she
attended to a great many charities and
that as Housman entertained a great deal
I thought it tired her. Mrs Housman
had told him I was very musical. He
asked me if I played any instrument. I
said none except the penny whistle. He
asked me if I did not think Mrs Housman
F 81
Passing By
a very fine singer. I said I did. He
also said that he supposed she knew a lot
of priests. I said I had never met one in
her house.
Sunday, May jfith. Rosedale, Surrey.
I arrived rather late last night. Besides
the guests I knew I was to meet, was
a Frenchman, M. Raphael Luc, and a
Mrs Vaughan. After dinner we had
some music. M. Luc sang several French
songs, by Lully, and others that I had
heard Mrs Housman sing. His singing
was greatly appreciated and applauded,
and it is, I confess, as far as it goes,
perfection itself, as regards quality, taste
and art, but I could not help thinking the
whole time that it would be impossible for
him to interpret Schubert.
This morning I sat in the garden and
read the newspapers. Mrs Housman
drove to Church which was some distance
off.
Mr Winchester Hill, the novelist, arrived
for luncheon and brought with him Miss
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Passing By
Ella Dasent, the actress. At the end of
the meal she gave us some vivid impersona-
tions of contemporary actors and actresses.
We sat talking for some time in the
verandah. Then Lady Jarvis took
Housman to show him the garden, and
Cunninghame walked away with Mrs
Vaughan and M. Luc.
Miss Housman, Mr Hill, Miss Dasent,
and myself remained on long chairs under-
neath a large tree. Miss Dasent and Mr
Hill discussed at great length a play that
he is adapting for her from one of his
novels. The story seemed to me absurd
— it was something about an Italian noble-
man strangling his wife's lover with a silk
handkerchief.
Towards five we had tea and after tea
Mrs Vaughan took me for a stroll round
the garden.
I found her a well-read woman who has
lived a great deal in Paris and is familiar
with the Bohemian world in more than one
continent.
83
Pass ing By
At dinner I sat between Mrs Housman
and Cunninghame. Mrs Housman said
that Luc's singing made one despair, and
she felt she could never sing again after
hearing him. I told her I doubted if he
could interpret German music. She was
annoyed with me and said I was missing
the point, and that the songs he sang
were exquisite.
We sat in the verandah after dinner,
while Luc sang to us from the drawing-
room. He sang P^aure's settings to
Verlaine's words.
84
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Monday, May 21st.
Dearest Elsie,
I have just come back
from Rosedale, where I have been staying
with Lady Jarvis. It is an old Tudor
house that was bodily transported from
the west of England. I believe it is
quite genuine, but it looks unreal and
the rooms are like show rooms at a
second-hand dealer's. The garden is quite
beautiful. We had a most amusing party.
Jane Vaughan (looking very pretty),
^ Raphael Luc, George, the Housmans.
Raphael sang both nights quite divinely
after dinner. On Saturday night we all
sat in the big downstairs room, but after
he had sung two songs Mrs Housman went
out on the verandah. She is so musical that
one could see it was more than she could
bear. I am certain she felt she was going
to cry. Sunday morning I had a long
85
Pas sin,g By
talk with Lady Jarvis. She told me Mrs
Housman is a very strict and devout
Catholic. We both agreed that there is
no doubt that George is very much in
love with her. She thinks she is in love
with him. I am still not sure Lady Jarvis
is right about her. I sat next to her
(Mrs H.) at dinner on Saturday night,
and George was on her other side. She
was perfectly natural, but 1 thought miles
away. During the whole time we were
there she didn't pay much attention to
him and she didn't avoid him. She went
to church by herself on Sunday morning
and stayed in all the afternoon. I think
she likes him, but nothing more than that.
Godfrey Mellor, the silent Secretary, is
devoted to her too. The other morning
at the office a man came to see us and
said all sorts of most absurdly silly things
about Mrs H. I could see he was furious.
He has known the Housmans quite a long
time.
More people came down to luncheon on
86
Passing By
Sunday, but nobody interesting. George
says he will be able to yacht now. I
think Mrs H. is delightful. I like her
more and more. I have been to the opera
twice, to a good many dinners, and some
balls. There may be a chance of Paris
for a few days later.
Yours,
G.
87
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, May 51 si.
I travelled back from Rosedale with A.
He asked me if I was fond of yachting.
I said I was a moderate sailor. He asked
me to gt) next Saturday to his house near
Littlehampton. His sister is going to be
there, and perhaps the Housmans. Dined
at the Club.
Tuesday, /i///e is/.
There is going to be a large concert at
the Albert Hall for the Albemarle Relief
Fund. Tuke brought the programme
and placed it on my table this morning.
Esther Lake is singing, and the Hous-
mans and A. are among the patrons.
Dined with A. at his Club. He told me
he thought Mrs Housman was far from
well. He said what she wants is sea air.
Wednesday, June 2nd.
Cunninghame told me he had dined
at the Housmans' last night. He said
Pass ing By
there was no one there but himself and
Carrington-Smith. He said Mrs Hous-
man talks of going away soon. London
tires her. Dined at the Club.
Thursday, June yd.
I have just come back from a dinner-
party at Aunt Ruth's. A great many
diplomats and politicians. I sat between
Thornton- Davis, who is at the F.O. now,
and Mrs Vernon, who is French and a
Legitimist and talks of the Place de la
Concorde as the Place Louis XV. Aunt
Ruth said she heard A. was doing
very well and spoke well in the House.
It's a pity, she said, that he is such a
Tory.
Friday, June ^th.
Went this afternoon to the concert at
—the Albert Hall for the Relief Fund in
the Housmans' box. Miss Housman and
Mrs Carrington-Smith were there, but
neither Mrs nor Mr Housman. Miss
Housman says that Mrs Housman has
89
Passing By
not been well lately. She said she goes
out far too much. I enjoyed nothing in
the programme. Dined at the Club.
Saturday, June ^th.
A. told me he expected me at Little-
hampton, but that I would find it dull, as
he had no party.
Sunday, June 6th. Littlehampton.
A. has a nice and comfortable little
house. His yacht, a small cutter with
room for two to sleep on board, is here.
He took Mrs Campion and myself out
this morning. There was what is called
a nice breeze. I cannot say I enjoyed it
very much. He told me that he had
asked the Housmans, but they could not
come, Mrs Housman is going to Corn-
wall soon for the rest of the summer.
She has not been well, and the doctors
told her she must leave London. A.
said he would miss them very much.
He liked them both exceedingly, and
he thought Miss Sarah was such a good
90
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sort. A. said the truth was that Mrs H.
worked herself to death over charities
and things hke that. He was sure the
priests were greatly to blame for this.
91
Letters from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, June ith.
Dearest Elsie,
There's not the slightest
chance of my coming over to Paris now.
I am not going to Ascot at all this year.
The Housmans thought of taking a house
for Ascot week, but she has not been
well, and they are staying out of London
till they go down to Cornwall. They have
taken a house somewhere near the Lizard,
and when she goes she will stay the whole
summer.
Both George and poor little Mellor are
in low spirits. I had a very nice letter
from Mrs H. asking me to go down there
in August and to stay as long as I liked.
Housman has lent me his box for the
whole of Ascot week. There is such a
rush that I haven't time to write properly
to you. Yours,
G.
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Passing By
London,
Friday, June lith.
Dearest Elsie,
I have spent the most
perfect Ascot week in London. I have
enjoyed every moment of it. I went to
the opera every night in the Housmans'
box, which besides being fun was most
convenient as I was able to ask people
who had done things for me. I dined on
Saturday with Jimmy Randall, who had
been at Ascot all the week. He says
that Housman has fallen violently in love
with a Mrs Rachel Park. You may
possibly have heard of her. She used to
sing at concerts under the name of Rose
Sinclair. She was quite beautiful, with
enormous eyes and flaming hair, but
quite brainless and quite unmusical. She
married a barrister who is now Park, K.C.
He works like a slave, but she spends
money more quickly than he can make it.
This explains the Cornwall arrangement.
Jimmy R. says that H. has violent scenes
93
Pass ing By
with Celia R. and that the end of that
idyll is only a question of hours. He
says Mrs P. will lead him a dance. She
is mercenary, stupid, common and a real
harpy. Poor "Bert," as Jimmy Randall
calls Housman. He is so good-natured.
And poor Mrs H.! Mellor hardly spea&s
at all now, and George doesn't say much.
He goes nowhere, but talks of yachting
on the west coast during the summer.
Yours,
G.
P.S. — Just got your telegram. I am
delighted you are coming to London. I
particularly wanted you to meet Mrs
Housman — and " Bert." You must come.
And now I shall just be able to manage
this if you will dine with me on Monday
night. She leaves for Cornwall on Tues-
day morning. I've asked George too. He
stays in London till Parliament is over,
and then he is going away and I shall be
free. How much leave will Jack get?
Three weeks at least, I hope. The
94
Passing By
Shamiers want you to stay with them
Sunday week, and Lady Jarvis wants you
to go down there. If you don't want to
stay there, we might go down for luncheon
one day. I shall be in London till the
end of July. Then I am going to Worsel
for a fortnight. The Housmans have
asked me to go to Cornwall, and I shall
try and fit that in between Worsel and
the Shamiers. They have been lent a
lodge in Scotland and have asked me to
go there in September. I have promised
to stay a few days at Edith's as well.
There is a parcel for me at the
Embassy. It is too big for the bag.
Could you bring it with you ?
95
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Tuesday, June loth.
Dined with Cunninghame last night
to meet his cousin, Mrs Caryl. She is
the wife of a diplomat who is Second
Secretary at Paris. A pleasant dinner.
The Housmans were there, and A. and his
sister.
Friday, June 2e^th.
Received a letter from Mrs Housman
to-day. She says the change of air is
doing her good. She hopes I will come
to Cornwall some time during my holiday.
Monday, July ^th.
Dined with Housman last night. Miss
Housman was there, and the Carrington-
Smiths, and a Mrs Park who used to be a
professional singer. She sang after dinner.
Miss Housman accompanied her. She sang
Tosti's Ninon, some Lassen, some Bem-
berg, a song by Lord Henry Somerset, and
E. Purcell's Passing By. Miss Housman
96
Passing By
said it was a comfort to accompany some-
one who had a sense of time. She has
a powerful voice and has been well trained,
but Passing- By did not suit her style of
singing, and I regretted that she had
attempted that song. She was not always
in tune.
Housman enjoyed it, and accompanied
her himself afterwards in some coon songs
which he played by ear.
Housman asked me to stay with them
for the whole of August. He said he was
very anxious that I should go, as he would
not be able to be much in Cornwall and he
was afraid Mrs Housman would be lonely.
He asked Cunninghame also. I accepted.
A. spends all his spare time now on his
yacht. I am going to stay with him next
Saturday.
Monday, July 12th.
A. is going to the Cowes Regatta. He
asked me to go with him, but I am leaving
on the I St of August for Cornwall.
G 97
Passing By
Sunday, August tst. Grey Farm,
Carbis Bay, Cornwall.
I arrived here last night. A pleasant
spot near the sea and not far from a golf
links. Mrs Housman and Housman are
here alone. Housman is greatly perturbed
because Mrs Carrington-Smith is bringing
a divorce suit against her husband for
infidelity. The other person concerned
is Miss Hope, whom I met at dinner one
night at Cunninghame's flat. Housman
says that Miss Hope is neurotic and
unhinged. Mrs Housman has never met
Miss Hope.
Housman said he hoped I would be
able to stay on here, as he would not
be able to spend much time in Cornwall.
Carrington-Smith was so greatly upset by
this wretched business that he could not
attend to the affairs of the firm. He was
afraid Mrs Housman would be lonely.
Lady Jarvis had promised to come later,
and Cunninghame also, but he did not
know when. Miss Housman had been
98
Passing By
obliged to go to Vichy to take the waters.
Housman played golf in the afternoon
with a member of the Club. I am not
a golf player, unfortunately. I told him
that Cunninghame was an admirable
player.
Monday, August ■znd.
Housman has been telegraphed for and
left this morning. In the afternoon we
went for a long drive and had tea in
a farm-house. The climate is warm and
agreeable.
Tuesday, August ^rd.
Bathed in the sea this morning and
went for a long walk in the afternoon with
Mrs H. After dinner she tried some new
songs by Tchaikovsky. We did not care
for them much and fell back on Schubert.
Schubert is her favourite composer. She
sang the Gruppe aus Tartarus.
Wednesday, August \th.
We went for an expedition to the
Lizard. Mrs Housman told me that
when she was a girl she had much wanted
99
Pass ing By
to become a professional singer, and that
she was studying for the Concert Stage
when she met Housman.
Thursday, August ^th.
We sat on the beach all the afternoon.
It was extremely hot and enjoyable.
Mrs Housman read Consuelo, by George
Sand, aloud. She reads French with
great purity of accent.
Father Stanway, the local priest, came
to dinner, a cheerful man with a venerable
appearance. When we were left alone,
after dinner, talking of men in public
offices, he said he knew Bowes, in the
Foreign Office, who had spent his Easter
holidays here. I asked him whether he
thought converts of that description made
satisfactory Catholics. He said he thought
Bowes would be an admirable Catholic.
I said I thought it must be very difficult
for a man of his upbringing, as Bowes
had been brought up in a rigid Church of
England family, and his father often wrote
to The Times, condemning ritualistic
loo
Passing By
practices and innovations. Father Stan-
way said it was not so complicated as I
thought. There were only three things
indispensable to a man if he wished to
become a Catholic : To believe in God,
to follow his conscience, to love his neigh-
bour as himself If he did that all the
rest was easy. He said he admired Bowes
greatly for taking the step.
Friday, August (tth.
We went to the Land's End, where
there were a great many tourists. Mrs
Housman continues to read out loud
Consuelo in the afternoons and evenings.
It is an interesting book, but I prefer
Jane Eyre.
Satnrdav, August ith.
I received a letter from Riley this
morning. He has been in London nearly
a month, and was there a fortnight before
I left, but he did not come to see me for
the following reason. He has taken the
step and has been received into the Roman
lOI
Passing By
Catholic Church, and he says his first
intention was not to tell anyone of his
conversion. He did not come to see me
because he knew he would not be able
to help discussing it. He is no longer
making a secret of it now. He found this
too difficult. Two or three days after
he had been received he happened to be
dining out and it was a Friday. His
hostess said to him, in the course of
conversation : " You are not a Catholic,
are you .-' " He resolved then and there
to keep it secret no longer.
He tells me in liis letter, "Your phil-
osophy of the first lie is quite right. Only
I regard what you call the first lie as the
Jlrst Truth. Once this is so, all the rest
follows." He says that after he left me
in Gray's Inn in May he resolved to put
the matter from him for a time and not to
think about it. He went back to Paris
and pursued his research. One morning
he woke up and felt he could not delay
another moment. He took the train for
Io2
Passing By
London the next day, where he intended
to go soon in any case for his holiday,
and the day after his arrival he called at
the Brompton Oratory and asked to see
a priest, as he knew no priests. He sat
in a small waiting-room downstairs, and
presently an elderly priest. Father X.,
arrived and asked him what he could do
for him. He told him he wished for
instruction prior to becoming a Catholic.
He called the next day. Father X. told
him after they had talked for some time
that he did not think he would need much
instruction. But he continued to see him
for the next three weeks. He was then
received. He says that what seemed be-
fore a step of great difficulty now appeared
quite extraordinarily simple, and he cannot
conceive why he did not take it a long
time ago.
Sunday, August ?>tk.
Mrs Housman went to Mass. I sat in
the o-arden ; when she returned from Mass
I told her about Riley. She asked me
X03
Passing B \
how old he was. I said I thought he
was about thirty-five. I told her he was
a brilliant scholar, and had taken high
honours at Oxford. He had a post at
the Liverpool University. She said she
had felt certain he would come into the
Church.
Lady Jarvis is coming here next week.
Monday, August ^th.
We spent the whole day on the beach,
reading aloud. Housman has written to
say that Mrs Carrington-Smith will insist
on bringing their affairs into court.
Carrington-Smith is much worried. Mrs
Housman says that Mrs Carrington-Smith
is an absurd woman.
Tuesday, August loth.
We spent the morning at St Ives,
shopping. I bought The Pickwick Papers
and an old silver teapot. We sat on the
beach in the afternoon, reading Consuelo.
After dinner Mrs Housman sang a beauti-
ful French-Canadian song.
104
Passing By
Wednesday, August 11 th.
Just as we were sitting down to luncheon
A. walked into the room ; he had sailed
here from Cowes in his yacht, which is
anchored in the bay. He could not stay
to luncheon as he was lunching at the
Golf Club with a friend. Mrs Housman
asked him to dinner. He accepted. He
said he had spent a most enjoyable week
at Cowes in his yacht, but had not won
any races. His sister had been with him,
only as she is a bad sailor she had not
enjoyed the sailing as much as he would
have liked. Cunninghame has been at
Cowes for three days on board a Mr
Venderling's steam yacht (an American).
A. says that he intends to spend some
time here cruising about the coast.
Thur.Jay, August xith.
Lady Jarvis arrived this morning. She
says she thinks that if Mrs Carrington-
Smith goes into court she will get a
divorce. She has substantial evidence.
Carrington- Smith is most uneasy.
105
Pass ing By
A. came to luncheon and proposed that
we should all go for a sail in the afternoon
together. Lady Jarvis and I declined,
as we are both moderate sailors. Mrs
Housman went with him. They came
back at six and she said she had enjoyed
it immensely.
Fiidav, August XT,th.
Mrs Housman received a telegram from
Housman this morning, telling her she
must ask A. to stay here in the house.
She had written to tell him — Housman —
A. was here. A. came to luncheon and Mrs
Housman invited him to stay. He said he
would be pleased to do so for a few days,
but that he is due in his yacht early next
week at Plymouth. Mrs Housman has re-
ceived a letter from Cunninghame, asking
whether it would be convenient for him to
come next week. She has telegraphed to
him that she would be glad to receive him.
Saturday, August ij^th.
The weather was so beautiful and the
sea was so smooth that we were all per-
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Passing By
suaded to go on board the yacht, where
we had luncheon. We went for a short
sail in the afternoon. Although I did not
feel ill I cannot say 1 enjoyed it, I prefer
the dry land. Lady Jarvis said she
enjoyed it greatly, although she is a bad
sailor as a rule. Mrs Housman is an
excellent sailor.
Sunday, August T-^th.
I am finishing Consuelo by myself as
we are not able to read aloud any more.
We all went for a drive in two carriages
in the afternoon through disused mines,
and had tea in a farm-house.
A. says he is enjoying his holiday
immensely.
Cunninghame arrives here to-morrow.
We had some music in the evening. A.'s
favourite composer is Sullivan, but his
favourite song is Offenbach's Chanson
de Fortunio, which Mrs Housman sang
to-night.
107
Letters from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Grey Farm,
Carbis Bay, Cornwall,
Tuesday, August i^th.
Dearest Elsie,
I arrived here from Worsel
last night, and found Mrs Housman, Lady
Jarvis, George, who sailed here in his
yacht from Cowes, and Godfrey Mellon
It is the most delicious place. A blue
sea with pink and purple streaks in it,
and a soft west wind, and wonderful sand
beaches, thick with people. It is the
height of the season. The Housmans
have oot a comfortable little house near
a g-olf links. Housman has had to go to
to o
London to see his partner, Carrington-
Smith, who has been threatened with
divorce by his wife, who accuses him of
infidelity with — who do you think ? —
Eileen Hope. " Bert " is by way of com-
ing down here on Saturday. George
is radiantly happy. I don't think she's
io8
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thinking about him. He wanted us all
to go out in his yacht this afternoon,
but as it was blowing half a gale Mrs
Housman was the only one who faced the
elements. She is a passionately good
sailor and the rougher it is the more she
enjoys it. I played golf with a General
York who lives here. Godfrey Mellor
doesn't play, which is tiresome. We are
having the greatest fun. Lady Jarvis is
in the most splendid form. She told us
some killing stories about Mrs Carrington-
Smith. She says that the whole of last
year she would only eat raw roots and
uncooked fruit because she says in a
former existence she was a priestess of
I sis, and that was the rule. Lady Jarvis
pointed out to her that she is not a
priestess of I sis now, but she said that if
she ate meat it would spoil her chance of
serving Isis again in her next existence.
She said, too, that it would displease the
elementals. Mrs Housman seems per-
fectly happy and cheerful. Mellor is
109
Passing By
depressed, but I am terribly sorry for him.
I feel he was having such a divine time
here before we all came.
Grey Farm,
Monday, August 2^rd.
Dearest Elsie,
"Bert" came down on
Saturday night, but went away this morn-
ing. He is completely upset about
Carrington-Smith, who says his wife is
bent on divorcing" him. Now that he is
gone one can laugh, but while he was
there we simply didn't dare. Eileen was
apparently a most imprudent correspond-
ent. Housman says she will win her case
without any doubt if she brings it into
court. I played golf with him all Sunday.
We had great fun after dinner last
night. Mrs Housman sang songs out of
the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and some
Offenbach, too, the Chanson de Fortunio,
too beautifully. George is desperately in
love — but I still don't think she is.
Yours, G.
no
Passing By
Grey Farm, Carbis Bay,
Tuesday, August 24M.
Dearest Elsie,
I am going to stay an-
other week as Edith can't have me yet.
George was leaving to-day, as he has
got to be at Plymouth for a regatta some-
where, but he has put off going till to-
morrow because of the weather.
I am enjoying myself immensely. I
have got to like Godfrey Mellor very
much. I went for a long walk with him
one afternoon. When one gets him quite
alone like that he talks quite a lot and is
delightful.
Mrs Carrington-Smith is going to insist
on divorce.
I am going to the Shamiers' on the ist
of October. I told you they have been
lent a lodge in Scotland on the coast.
Yours etc.,
G.
Ill
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, August i6th. Grey Farm, Carbis Bay.
Cunninghame arrived late in the evening.
We talked at dinner a great deal about
the likelihood of the Carrington-Smith
divorce. We discussed divorce in general
Mrs Housman was of course against
divorce, but she said that the rules of the
Church were terribly hard on the indi-
vidual in many cases. She said : " We
are allowed to separate."
Tuesday, August i^tk.
We all went for an expedition to the
Land's End.
Wednesday, August i8//z.
We all bathed in the morning. Mrs
Carrington-Smith has refused to relent
in spite of Housman's attempts at media-
tion — apparently she found some letters
addressed by Miss Hope to her husband
and Miss Hope was an imprudent corre-
spondent. Lady Jarvis and I wondered
112
Passing By
why people kept letters, especially when
they were compromising. Mrs Housmaa
said she quite understood this. She never
could bring herself to burn old letters,
although she never looked at them.
Thursday, August igfA.
We had luncheon on board the yacht,
but after luncheon we left A. on board
and went for a walk on the cliffs.
Friday, August 2otk.
I went for a walk with Cunninghame
in the afternoon. He talked a great deal
about A. He said he ought to marry.
He said he thought Mrs Housman was
one of the nicest people he had ever met
in his life.
Saturday, August 21st.
Housman arrived in the evening. It
poured with rain all day, so we sat
indoors. Lady Jarvis played patience.
Mrs Housman played some old songs she
found in the house. There is nothing, I
H IT3
Passing By
think, more melancholy than old or, rather,
old-fashioned music.
Sunday, August ■22nd.
Housman announced his intention of
going to Mass with Mrs Housman this
morning. He said he always did so at
the seaside, he thought it right to support
poor Missions. Housman said at luncheon
that Father Stanway had preached an
excellent sermon. He had said in his
sermon that man was a ridiculous animal,
and that every time we slip on a piece of
orange-peel or sit down on a hat by
mistake, we should give thanks for the
Grace of God that is teaching us humility.
In the afternoon Cunninghame and
Housman played golf. Housman lost.
He says Cunninghame is a very fine
player.
Monday, August ij^rd.
Housman left for London this morningr.
A. leaves to-morrow for Plymouth, but
the weather is still very unsettled and it
114
Passing By
has been blowing hard, and I wonder
whether he will be able to start.
Last night after dinner Mrs Housman
suggested reading aloud. A. asked her
to I read some stories by an American
called O. Henry, whose works have not
been published in England, and whom I
had never heard of. A. has travelled in
America. Mrs Housman did so. She
said she thought we would find them
difficult to understand as we did not
know America. We did, that is to say,
Cunninghame and myself. But A. was
greatly amused, and Lady Jarvis said she
thought they were clever.
Tuesday, August 2^th.
It is still blowing hard and A. has put
off going to Plymouth altogether, as he
would not get there in time for the regatta.
Cunninghame and A. played golf to-day
with a retired Indian General, who lives
in a house about three miles from here.
His name is York. They brought him
back to tea, a brisk, direct man. He
Passing By
said something about his wife and Mrs
Housman asked if she might call on
her. General York said they would be
delighted.
More O. Henry was read out in the
evening. I prefer Mrs Housman's read-
ings in French literature. A. enjoyed it
immensely.
Wednesday, August 2^th.
Mrs Housman called on Mrs York this
afternoon. Mrs York greeted her with
the words : " This is very unusual." Mrs
Housman did not understand what was
unusual. Mrs York said she did not
recollect having called. She was the
oldest inhabitant and had discovered the
place. Mrs Housman apologised. She
has asked the General and Mrs York to
luncheon on Sunday.
Thursday, jliigust 2.6t/i.
Cunninghame played golf with the
General. 1 went for a walk with Lady
Jarvis in the afternoon. She talked of
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Passing By
a great many things ; of music and
musical education abroad. She considers
Mrs Housman a fine artist. She talked
of A., of his work and mine and my
prospects for the future. I told her I en-
joyed routine work and had no ambition to
do anything else. She talked of marriage.
She said A. ought certainly to marry soon
as he would be very lonely otherwise.
His sister, Mrs Campion, could not look
after him, as she had her own children to
look after. Her eldest daughter would
soon be out. She asked me whether I
had ever thought of marrying. She is
a most intelligent and agreeable woman.
Friday, August 11 th.
A. was obliged to go to Penzance to-
day for the day. We all went for a walk
in the afternoon. It is finer and quite
warm, but the sea is still very rough.
Mrs Housman received a letter from Mrs
York this morning saying that she was
unable to come to luncheon on Sunday,
but that she had no doubt the General
117
Pausing By
would accept the invitation with pleasure.
Mrs Housman wrote back to say she
would be delighted to see the General on
Sunday.
The O. Henry book is finished. Mrs
Housman is now reading us some stories
by another American author, Richard
Harding Davis. I wish she would return
to European literature. But A. enjoys
these American books.
Saturday, August 2.?>ih.
The wind has gone down and A. went
out sailing. Cunninghame played golf.
Mrs Housman spent the day at a convent
which is some miles off, and she did not
come down to dinner.
Lady Jarvis took me into the town in
the morning, and in the afternoon we
went for a drive. We had no reading in
the evening.
Sunday, August 2<)th.
General York did not come to luncheon
after all, he wrote a note excusing him-
II.8
Passing By
self. Mrs Housman went to Mass in the
morning. A. and Cunninghame played
golf. Mrs Housman read out loud a
story by Kipling after dinner. I wonder
what an E.P. tent means.
IIQ
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Grey Farm, Careis Bay,
August 2,0th.
Dearest Elsie,
The weather has been too
awful, but now, thank heaven, it is fine
again. George was obHged to put off
going to Plymouth by sea as it was too
rough. The Shamiers have put me off.
They can't have the Lodge that was
going to be lent to them, so they won't go
to Scotland at all this year. This changes
all my plans. Mrs Housman asked me to
stay on another week here, and I am
going to as there is now no hurry to
get to Edith's. I shall then go back to
Worsel for three days if they can have
me, and then stay with Edith for the rest
of my holiday. She has got the whole
family there at this moment, so I shall
enjoy going there later better. I shall be
back in London the first week in October.
120
Passing By
There is a charming old man here who
plays golf with me, General York. His
wife, who was huffy because Mrs Housman
" called," paid a call in state this afternoon.
She came in a barouche with an Indian
servant on the box. She is organising
a bazaar and asked Lady Jarvis to help at
her stall. She said the bazaar was in the
cause of the Church ; she did not ask Mrs
Housman. She stayed seven minutes by
the clock and refused tea, which she said
she never took as it was trying for the
nerves. She was dressed in black jet,
and brought with her a small Pomeranian
dog. She said she and her husband had
lived here eight years and that it used to
be a charming place when they discovered
it.
Write to me here and then to Edith's,
but not to Worsel as that is uncertain.
Yours,
G.
121
From the Diary of Godfrey Meilor
Monday, August 2,'^th.
I am glad to say Cunninghame has put
off going for a week. Mrs York called
this afternoon. I was introduced to her,
but she addressed no remark to me.
Tuesday, August 2,'ist.
A. has gone away for a night as he is
staying with someone in the neighbour-
hood. Mrs Housman took Cunninghame
to the Lizard, which he had not yet seen.
Lady Jarvis and I spent a lazy day in the
garden and on the cliffs. It is extremely
hot.
Wednesday , September ist.
Cunninghame and A. played golf with
General York and suggested his coming
back to tea, but he declined with much
embarrassment. Mrs Housman returned
Mrs York's visit, but she was not at home.
Mrs Housman sang after dinner. A.
does not care for German music, which
122
Passing By
limits the programme ; he is fond, however,
of old English songs.
Thursday, Septemher 2nd.
A beautiful day for sailing, so they said.
A. took Mrs Housman for a sail.
Friday, September 7,rd.
I find A.'s spirits a little boisterous at
times. He took us out fishing this after-
noon. After dinner he insisted on Mrs
Housman playing some American coon
songs.
Saturday, September /^th.
Housman arrived unexpectedly with Car-
rington-Smith this afternoon. Carrington-
Smith seems depressed about his coming
divorce. Mrs Housman was out sailing
with A. and they did not come back until
just before dinner. Carrington-Smith is
a great expert on boxing and gave us a
sparring exhibition after dinner. That is
to say, he explained at great length the
nature of a straight left, and upset some
of the furniture in so doing. After dinner
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Passing By
Housman, Carrington- Smith, Cunning-
hame and Lady Jarvis played Bridge.
Sunday, September $th.
Housman played golf and met General
York, knowing nothing of what had
occurred, and asked him and Mrs York
to luncheon. The General was much
embarrassed and said his wife was an
invalid. Housman then asked him to
come by himself The General stammered
and said they were having luncheon out.
But Housman would take no refusal and
asked them to dinner. The General said
they didn't dine out on Sundays! His
wife And then he got dreadfully
confused, and Cunninghame came to the
rescue and said Housman had forgotten
we were dining on board the yacht, which
we were of course not doing.
Cunninghame leaves, I regret to say,
to-morrow.
124
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Grey Farm, Carbis Bay,
Sunday, September $th.
Dearest Elsie,
I leave to-morrow for
Worsel. I am only stopping here a week.
Then I go on to Edith's where I shall
stay to the end of the month. Most of
the family have gone. I spent a whole
day with Mrs Housman on Tuesday and
w^ went to the Lizard. This is the first
time I have had a real talk alone with her
since I have been here. We were talking
about my plans and I said that I had been
going to stay with the Shamiers. She said :
" Oh yes," and paused a moment and then
said : " She's a charming woman, isn't
she ? " I could see she knew. Later on
she talked of George and said how nice
Mrs Campion was and what a good
thing it would be if George married. I
said: "Yes, what a good thing. It was
125
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the greatest mistake his not marrying. "
Upon which she said : " Do you think he
will ? " And then in a flash I knew that
Lady Jarvis had been quite right and I
had been utterly wrong. What an idiot
I have been ! It must have been quite
obvious to a baby the whole time ! I
can't tell you how I mind it. I think it is
the greatest pity and really too awful !
What are we to do ? That's just it — one
can do nothing : there is nothing to be done,
absolutely nothing. Of course Godfrey
Mellor must have seen it clearly the whole
time. I am sure he is miserable. It is
all the greatest pity and how I can have
been so blind, I don't know, not that it
would have made any difference if I hadn't
been. Housman, of course, sees nothing
and has begged George to stay on. As
a matter of fact he (George) is going away
quite soon as he has to sail his yacht back
and he is stopping somewhere on the way.
He. will be back in London in October.
It is all very depressing and I am quite
126
Pass ing B y
glad to be going. Lady Jarvis has said
nothing to me but I can see that she sees
that I see. Godfrey Mellor is staying on.
Housman leaves to-morrow. Write to
me at Edith's.
Yrs.
G.
127
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, September 6th.
Housman and Cunninghame both left
this morning. A. goes away on Wed-
nesday. A stormy day — ■ too rough
for sailing. Carrington-Smith, who is
remaining on, played golf with A.
Tuesday, September ifk.
Mrs Housman and A. went out for a
sail. I went for a walk with Lady Jarvis.
Carrington-Smith played golf: after dinner
he sang Fll sing thee songs of Arahy,
Mrs Housman accompanied him : he has
a tenor voice.
Wednesday, September ith.
A. left in his yacht this morning. Lady
Jarvis took Carrington-Smith for a walk.
I went out with Mrs Housman. She
suggested finishing Consuelo : I told her
I had already finished it. Miss Housman
arrives on Saturday.
128
Passing By
Thursday, September gth.
Mrs Housman received a telegram from
Mrs Baines, who is in the neighbourhood
with her husband, proposing themselves.
Mrs Housman has asked them to stay.
They will arrive to-morrow. Carrington-
Smith sang Tosti's Good-bye after dinner.
I went for a walk with Mrs Housman
in the afternoon. She said she likes
Cunninghame particularly. She said that
A. ought to marry.
Friday, September loth.
A rainy day, we remained indoors.
Carrington-Smith went for a walk by
himself. Mr and Mrs Baines arrived in
the afternoon. After dinner they played
bridge : Lady Jarvis, Carrington-Smith
and Mr and Mrs Baines. Mrs Baines
said she greatly admired the works of
Mrs Ella Wheeler Wilcox. "She is,"
she said, "a true poet, or perhaps I should
say a true poetess." She said theatrical
performances affected her so much that
she could seldom "sit out a piece." She
I 129
Passing By
had been obliged to take to her bed after
seeing The Only Way. Carrington-Smith
said he preferred a prize fight to any play.
Mr Baines did not care for the English
stage, but he always went to a French
play when there was one to see in London :
he had greatly admired Sarah Bernhardt
in old days. His wife, he pensively
reminded us, had once been taken for
her. Mrs Baines protested and said that
it was in the days when Sarah Bernhardt
was quite thin. " Such a beautiful voice,"
she said. " Quite the human violin in
those days. Now, of course, she rants
and appears in such dreadful plays — so
violent."
Saturday, September nth.
Mr and Mrs Baines left this morning.
Miss Housman arrived in the afternoon.
Carrington-Smith played golf and I went
out with Mrs Housman. After dinner
Miss Housman suggested Bridge, but
there were only three players, as Mrs
Housman does not play. Miss Housman
130
Passing By
said I must play. I said I did not know
the rules. She said she would teach me.
I played — I was her partner. She
became excited over what is called the
"double ruff," a point I have not yet
grasped. Carrington-Smith, who is an
excellent player, explained me the rules
with great patience.
Sunday, September izth.
Mrs Housman went to Mass. In the
afternoon she went for a walk with Miss
Housman. We played Bridge again after
dinner. Miss Housman was annoyed with
me as I neglected to finesse.
Monday, September \7^tK.
The last week of my holiday. It
becomes finer and warmer every day.
Miss Housman said she must see the Land's
End. Mrs Housman took her there. I
went for a walk with Lady Jarvis in the
evening. More Bridge after dinner : I
revoked, but my partner, Carrington-
Smith, was most amiable about it.
131
Pass ing By
Tuesday, September i^th.
Miss Housman took Mrs Housman into
the town as she said she needed help with
her shopping : she did not make many-
purchases. As far as I understood, only
two yards of silk. I went out with
Carrington-Smith in theafternoon. Bridge
in the evening — I do not yet understand
the "double ruff."
Wednesday, September i$tk.
We all went to the Lizard in two
carriages. Miss Housman said she must
see the Lizard. She, Mrs Housman and
myself went in one carriage ; Lady Jarvis
and Carrington-Smith in the other. Bridge
in the evening ; Miss Housman lost, which
annoyed her.
Thursday, September i6th.
A wet day. Miss Housman practised
all the morning (Fantasia in C sharp
minor, Chopin) ; her touch is very metallic.
We played Bridge in the afternoon after
tea, as well as after dinner.
132
Passing By
Friday, September iith.
My last day. It cleared up. We all
went out on to the beach. Miss Housman
read aloud a novel, which she had already
begun and which we will certainly not
have time to finish, called Queed, by an
American author. After dinner we played
Bridge.
Saturday, September i^ih.
Arrived at Gray's Inn. Travelled up
with Carrington-Smith.
Sunday, October yd. Gray's Inn.
Stayed at home in the morning and
read the Sunday newspapers. In the
afternoon I went for a walk in Kensington
Gardens.
Monday, October A,th.
A. and Cunninghame returned to the
office. A. told us that his sister, Mrs
Campion, had invited both of us to stay
with her next Saturday at her house in
Oxfordshire. We have both accepted,
133
Passing By
Tuesday, October ^th.
Cunninghame asked me to dinner.
We dined at his flat and sat up talking
until nearly one o'clock in the morning.
I had a letter from Lady Jarvis telling me
she has returned to London and inviting
me to visit her in Mansfield Street when-
ever I felt inclined.
Wednesday, October 6tk.
Dined with A. at his Club. He told me
that Mrs Housman arrives to-morrow ; he
met Housman in the street this morning.
Thursday, October "jib.
I called on Lady Jarvis late this even-
ing and found her at home. She said
Cornwall had had a beneficial effect on
Mrs Housman's health. 1 stayed talking
till nearly seven.
Friday, October ith.
Received a note from Mrs Housman
asking me to dine there next Tuesday.
Went to a concert with Lady Jarvis at
the Queen's Hall : the programme was
134
Passing B if
uninteresting, but I enjoyed my evening
nevertheless.
Saturday, October ^th. Wraxted Priory, Oxfordshire.
I travelled down with A. and Cunning-
hame and found a party consisting, besides
ourselves, of Mrs Campion and her three
children, Fraulein Brandes, the governess.
Miss Macdonald, Cunninghame's cousin,
and a Miss Wray. I sat next to Mrs
Campion at dinner : she said she hoped
they would go to Florence again next
Easter. After dinner we played Conse-
quences and the letter game.
Sunday, October xoth.
Everyone went to church this morning
except Cunninghame and myself. At
luncheon I sat next to Fraulein Brandes.
She said Shakespeare was badly performed
in England and that she preferred the
German translation of the plays to the
original ; she considered it superior.
"Aberdas," she added, "will kein Englander
gestehen." She was shocked to hear I had
135
Passing By
never read Shakespeare's plays. I told
her I had no taste for verse. She said
this vi^as unglaublich. I told her I was
fond of German music. In the afternoon
Mrs Campion took me for a walk.
Cunninghame went out with his cousin.
At dinner I sat next to Miss Wray. I
found her most agreeable. She has
travelled a great deal and seems to have
a real appreciation of classical music.
136
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, October nth.
Dearest Elsie,
We had a delightful Sun-
day at Mrs Campion's. A lovely old
house not very far from Oxford : grey stone
walls, a hall with the walls left bare and
a few bits of good tapestry and another
panelled room. Freda was there, and
Lavinia Wray, who has just come back
from South America. She is looking so
well, her lovely skin whiter than ever
and those huge eyes — George liked her
enormously. He had never met her
before. How wonderful it would be if
that could come off. It would be exactly
right. Of course I am sure Mrs Campion
wants it and is not likely to do anything
stupid. I shall get Edith to help later if
possible. She is still in the country now.
Mrs Housman has come back to London
137
Passing By
and I hear from Randall that Housman is
mad -about Mrs Park. I shall go and see
her next week. George is in goo4 spirits.
When I got back I couldn't bear the sight
of my flat with those glaring curtains and
I have committed the great extravagance
of changing them. The new ones are
coming next week. I hope they will be
a success as I , .shan't be able to change
them again.
Yrs.
G.
138
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, October nth.
Dined at the Club.
Tuesday, October 12th.
Had luncheon with Cunninghame to
meet his sister, Mrs Howard. She is
older than he is and less communicative.
Her husband is on the Stock Exchange.
She was only in London for the day but
she said she hoped I would come and see
her when she settled in London later.
She has a house in Chester Street.
Wednesday, October i^th.
Dined with the Housmans last night.
A. was there, Miss Housman and Mrs
Park. I sat next to Mrs Housman.
Mrs Park contradicted A. when he
mentioned music and said something
about the gross ignorance of English
amateurs. After dinner she asked Miss
Housman to accompany her. She sang
some operatic airs and Gounod's Ave
139
Passing By
Maria. I drove home with A., who told
me he could not bear Mrs Park.
Thursday, October i^ih.
I am just back from dining with Lady
Jarvis. A. was there, Miss Wray and
several other people. Lady Jarvis asked
me if I had seen the Housmans. I told
her about my dinner there. She said that
Mrs Park was an intolerable woman : she
knew her when she was a singer and she
said she had never met anyone who gave
herself such airs. Walked home with
Cunninghame, who was dining there too.
He is dining with the Housmans on
Sunday. The Carrington-Smith divorce
case is in the newspapers.
Friday, October i^fh.
Dined at the Club.
Mrs Carrington-Smith has got her
divorce.
Saturday, October i6th.
Spent the day at Woking with Solway.
He has finished his Sonata.
140
Pass ing By
Sunday, October iith,
I went to see Mrs Housman this after-
noon and found her at home. After I had
been there about five minutes a great
many visitors arrived and I left.
141
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Halkin Street,
Sunday, October iith.
Dearest Elsie,
I am having a quiet
Sunday in London. George is staying
with the Prime Minister. I dined last
night with the Housmans. Mrs Park
was there, Randall and Miss Housman.
Mrs Park is incredible : a magnificent
figure, hair dyed a rich bronze with
flaming high lights, dressed in a flowing
robe of peach-coloured satin with a neck-
lace of fire-opals and a large diamond lyre
on her shoulder ; the semi-royal manner
of an ex- Prima Donna, at the same time
making it quite clear that she no longer
mixed with the artistic world — she had
soared to the top of it and out of it. She
said : " Years ago when 1 was at Balmoral
the dear Queen told me she reminded
me of Grisi." I said: "1 suppose you
142
Passing By
mean you reminded her of Grisi," and she
drew herself up stiffly and said she meant
what she said. She told me that Madame
Cosima had implored her to sing at
Bayreuth but of course she couldn't think
of doing- such a thingr. Poor Theodore
(her late husband) hated Wagner. After
dinner she sang, Miss Housman accom-
panied her, a song out of Cavalleria.
They had a fierce argument about the
time. Mrs Park said she was playing too
fast, which she was, although I don't
believe Mrs Park knew this. Miss Sarah
stuck to her guns and played, if anything,
faster. Mrs Park then refused to sing.
Housman asked his wife to accompany
her, which Mrs Housman most good-
naturedly said she would be delighted to
do. This was more than Miss Housman
could bear — she said Mrs Housman was
playing too slow and Mrs Park agreed.
Miss Housman tore Mrs Housman from
the piano and sat there herself, and the
song was sung to the end. All seemed to
143
Passing By
be peaceable but Miss Housman unfortun-
ately couldn't refrain from saying that
Mascagni's music was rubbish, upon which
Mrs Park burst into a furious passion.
Who was Miss Housman to judge? she
screamed. Miss Housman said she had
studied music for five years under the
best musicians in the world at Leipzig.
Mrs Park said she had sung to Patti, who
had said she was the only English artist
worthy of the name of "artist." Miss
Housman, in a sardonic voice, said that
Patti was so kind. Mrs Park said that
the arrogance of amateurs knew no bounds.
She had sung before the most critical
public in two continents. Miss Housman
said she did not consider the Americans
a critical public. Mrs Park then said she
would never sing again in the Housmans'
house as long as she lived, not if every-
one went down on their knees to her.
Housman became greatly agitated and
fussed about the room, saying : " Never
mind, never mind ; we are all very tired
144
Passing By
to-night, it's the east wind." Mrs Park
said she always sang her best in an east
wind. I caught Mrs Housman's eye and
we were seized with a fit of uncontrollable
laughter. We laughed till we shook.
Randall caught it too. This made things
much worse. Mrs Park said she was
being insulted and swept out of the room,
Housman running after her. He came
back alone gibbering with agitation, and
Miss Housman then attacked him and
said of course if Albert (rolling the "r " with
a rapid guttural) would invite such awful
people, what could one expect ? Then
" Bert" got really angry and we all sat in
dead silence while he and Miss Sarah
abused each other like pickpockets.
Then the door opened and Mrs Park
came back saying she had left her fan
behind. She took no notice of us but
disappeared with Housman into the
Oriental lounge, and there we heard
spirited skirmishes of talk going on in
an undertone. Miss Housman sat down
K 145
Pass ing By
defiantly at the piano and played, or
rather banged, the Rapsodie Hongroise.
When this was over they both came back
and Housman suggested, with a nervous
chuckle, that we should all have some
lemonade. We jumped at the idea and
the evening ended peaceably enough, but
Mrs Park ignored Miss Housman, was
icy towards Mrs Housman, and made all
her remarks to me and Randall. I then
left the house. Housman followed me
nervously to the door and said that Mrs
Park had the artistic temperament and
that I mustn't mind, and that it was too
bad of Sarah to provoke her.
Yrs.
G.
P.S. — I suppose you read about the
Carrington-Smith case in the newspapers.
Mrs Housman and I laughed a good deal
about it when " Bert " wasn't listening, but
I am very sorry for Eileen. Aren't you.-*
14b
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, October iZth.
A. has been staying with the Prime
Minister. He does not appear to have
enjoyed himself very much. He asked
me if I had seen the Housmans lately.
Tuesday, October igtk.
A. and I dined with Cunninghame.
Miss Wray was there, Mrs Howard and
Lady Jarvis. A. said afterwards that
Miss Wray was a charming girl — it was
a pity that she did not marry.
Wednesday, October 20 tk.
I called on Mrs Housman late, but she
was not at home. Housman came out of
the house as I was standing at the door.
He asked me to dinner on Sunday. I
accepted.
Thursday, October ■zist.
Dined at the Club.
147
Passing By
Friday, October i2nd.
Dined with Mrs Howard. A. was
there, Cunninghame, Miss Wray, Miss
Macdonald, and others. Mr Howard is
half- Irish and very boisterous. I sat next
to Miss Wray ; she said Mrs Campion
was the nicest woman she knew. Uncle
Arthur and Aunt Ruth have come back
to London and are starting" their Thursday
evenings. They have asked A. and
myself to dinner on Thursday week.
Saturday, October 2T,rd.
A. has gone to the country to stay with
a General ; a military party.
Sunday, October ii,th.
I had luncheon with Lady Jarvis. She
told me she did not think Mrs Housman
would stay long in London, as the London
winter was bad for her ; she said she
thought she would most likely go to
Florence.
I dined with the Housmans. A strange
party. Mrs Park was the only person
148
Passing By
there I had met before. There was a
South African magnate and his wife,
a retired Indian official, and a Mr Perry,
an AustraHan, and his wife, who were
apparently intimate friends of Mrs Park's,
at least she called him Tom. I sat next
to Mrs Perry, who told me that Paris had
been a disappointment to her. She told
me, also, that the women in England
were, according to Australian standards,
dowdy. On the other side of me was
Lady Bowles, the wife of the Indian
official. She told me she was Mrs Park's
greatest friend ; she said she. lived at
Cannes and only spent a few weeks in
London every .year ; they were staying at
the Hyde Park Hotel. She found London
dreadfully slow : she was accustomed, she
said, always to smoke between the courses
at dinner, and not to do so was a great
deprivation. She also said she was a
great gambler and was used to gambling
all night. " Of course I find this exhaust-
ing," she said ; "and I always tell Harold
149
Passing By
I shall take to cocaine some day."
Housman seemed rather embarrassed.
Miss Housman was not there. After
dinner Lady Bowles suggested a game of
Poker. They all played except Mrs
Housman and they were still playing
when I left.
Monday, October 2^th.
I had luncheon with Cunninghame at
his Club. He said A. had come back
from the country in a very bad temper
and had said that nothing would induce
him to pay a visit anywhere again.
Tuesday, October zdth.
Went to a concert at the Queen's Hall.
Saw the Housmans in the distance, and to
my astonishment I met A. in the interval.
He said he had been dragged there by his
sister. 1 met them again as we were
going out. A. asked me to dinner on
Friday.
Wednesday, October I'^th.
Had luncheon with A. He seems in
high spirits. He told me that his sister
150
Passing By
had come up from London for the winter
— she had taken a house in Pont Street.
He said the Housmans and Cunninghame
were dining on Friday and it would be
a Cornwall party.
Thursday, October lith.
Dined with Aunt Ruth — a large political
dinner ; the F.O. largely represented, as
usual. A. was there and sat next to the
wife of the French military attache, and
on the other side of Aunt Ruth. I am
afraid he found the dinner tedious, but
after dinner he talked to Miss Wray : I
sat next to her at dinner. She asked me
if I had known A. long. She said he was
so like his sister. Uncle Arthur has not
yet grasped I am working in a public
office. He asked me how I was getting
on in the city.
Friday, October iijth.
Dined with A. at his flat. Mr and
Mrs Housman, Lady Jarvis, Miss Wray,
Cunninghame and Miss Macdonald, Mrs
151
Pass ing B y
Campion was coming but had been obliged
to go down to the country. Mrs Housman
said she was very likely going abroad for
the winter.
Saturday, October ^oth.
A. was engaged to go somewhere in
the country but he has put off going. He
left a telegram at the office to his hostess
but forgot to fill in the address. Tuke
brought it to me. It was to Mrs Legget,
Miss Wray's aunt. She is not in Who's
Who, but I rang up Lady Jarvis on the
telephone and she knew.
Sunday, October ^ist.
I went to call on Mrs Housman but she
'vas not at home.
152
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
' Monday, November ist.
Dearest Elsie,
I spent Sunday in London
and had luncheon with Lady Jarvis. She
told me the Housman manage was all
upside down owing to Mrs Park, who
refused to let Housman see any of his old
friends, insulted them all, and quarrelled
every day with Miss Housman, and in-
sisted on her friends being asked nightly
to dinner — and what friends ! Fast
colonials. Lady Jarvis says, and the
dregs of the Riviera ! Poor Mrs Housman
is utterly worn out. Mrs Park behaves
exactly as if it were her house, orders the
servants about, complains of the food, and
is always there ! The result is Mrs
Housman has gone to Florence ; she was
to leave this morning and she is going to
stay there the whole winter. I did not
153
Passing By
know how George would take this bit of
news, but he knew already and seems,
oddly enough, in good spirits ! Edith
thinks he is fond of Lavinia Wray and
that he will end by marrying her, but
Lady Jarvis does not agree, although she
said that his sister thinks the same thing.
They can't understand his being in such
spirits otherwise. Last Friday we all had
dinner at George's flat. After dinner, so
Lady Jarvis told me, before we came out
of the dining-room they were playing the
game of saying who you could marry and
who you couldn't, and after mentioning
a lot of people, Godfrey Mellor among
others, Freda Macdonald said : " Georee."
Lady Jarvis and Freda said : " Oh yes ;
we could marry him." Mrs Housman
and Lavinia Wray said : " No — quite im-
possible."
Except Lady Jarvis, they are all extra-
ordinarily optimistic about George and
think that there is nothing in the Housman
thing and that it will pass off and he will
154
Passing B //
marry Lavinia. I am sure they are wrong,
and I am more depressed about it than
words can say. Lavinia is fond of him,
too, and that is all that has been gained.
There are now three miserable people,
instead of two ! No letter from you this
week, but I hope to get one to-morrow.
Yrs.
G.
155
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, November \st. Gray's Inn.
Received a letter from Mrs Housman
saying that she was leaving for Florence
this morning, She was sorry not to have
seen me yesterday. She is going to stay
in Florence until the end of May.
Tuesday, November 2nd.
Had dinner with A. alone at his flat.
He was in low spirits and said that he
hates official life.
Tuesday, December 21st.
My Christmas holidays begin to-morrow.
I am going to Aunt Ruth's. Cunninghame
is staying with Lady Jarvis. A. said he
would most probably spend Christmas
with his sister, but he was not sure.
Thursday, December 2yd.
Received a telegram from Aunt Ruth
saying the party was put off as Uncle
Arthur has got bronchitis. A telegram
156
Passing By
arrived for A. at the office this morning.
I telephoned to Tuke at his flat to know
where to forward it. Tuke said A.'s
address for the next week would be Hotel
Grande Bretagne, Florence.
Christmas Day.
Dined at the Club.
Tuesday, December zSik.
Tuke telephoned to say not to forward
any more letters to A. He was on his
way home.
Saturday, January ^th, 1910.
Received a letter from A. from his
sister's house. He is coming up next
week. ■ Riley has written to me from
Paris to know whether I could put him
up next month. He is going to spend
a month in London. I have told him I
would be glad of his company.
157
Letters from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
ROSEDALE,
Saturday, January ist, 1910.
Dearest Elsie,
I have been staying with
Lady Jarvis for Christmas. There is a
very small party, only Jane Vaughan and
Winchester Hill besides myself. Just
before I came down here Housman asked
me to dine with him at the Carlton. I
went and he was alone. After talking
nervously on ordinary topics, he told me
he did not know what to do. It gradually
came out that Mrs Park is making his
life quite unbearable. She won't let him
see any of his friends ; she quarrels with
Sarah, and has the most violent scenes ;
she makes scenes every day, and not long
ago, he said, broke a fine piece of Venetian
glass. He is miserable ; he says he can't
call his soul his own. I told Lady Jarvis
all about this and she said the only thing
158
Passing By
to be done would be for Housman to get
Mrs Housman to come back. She has
been away two months, and if she comes
back at the end of the month the worst
of the winter will be over. She is very
much worried about Mrs Housman and
says this is most unfortunate, as it would
be better really in every way if she were
to stay out there. You see Edith and
Mrs Campion and Freda all think that
it is only a passing fancy of George's and
that he will get over it and marry Lavinia
Wray! Lady Jarvis says this is wrong;
she knows they are wrong. She thinks
George and Mrs Housman are desperately
in love with each other and she doesn't
know how it will end. She is so worried
that she nearly went out to Florence last
week. She had heard from Mrs Housman
quite lately. She said in her last letter
that George had suggested coming out to
Florence for Christmas with Mrs Campion.
She had told him that she would most
likely not be in Florence as the Albertis
159
Passing By
had asked her to spend Christmas with
them at Ravenna ; she was not sure,
however, whether she would go or not.
Whether George went or not, I don't
know. He told me he was going to
spend Christmas with Mrs Campion at
the Priory.
I am going back to London at the end
of next week.
Yrs.
G.
London,
Wednesday, January IXth.
Dearest Elsie,
I came back to London
on Monday. I asked Housman to dinner
with me and told him that he had much
better get Mrs Housman back. He said
he quite agreed that it was the only thing
to do. Things were now worse than ever.
Mrs Park was impossible. Poor little
" Bert " ! The worst of it is, that directly
this is over there is quite certain to be
someone else and perhaps someone worse.
1 60
Passing By
However, let us hope for the best.
George came to the office yesterday. He
said he had been staying with his sister ;
he said nothing about Florence. ^ He ia
in low spirits.
I shall certainly go abroad at Easter
and spend a few days in Paris in any
case. Lady Jarvis is back in London, and
the Shamiers. I dined there last night.
Lavroff was there and Louise is just as
fond of him as ever.
Poor Godfrey Mellor is terribly melan-
choly. He has got a friend staying with
him now and I don't see much of him.
Yrs.
G.
i6i
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Tuesday, February i^th, 19 lo.
Alfred Riley ari'ived last night. He is
now professor at Shelborough University
and is editing Propertius. He has come
to consult some books at the British
Museum.
Wednesday, February i6th.
Sat up very late last night talking with
Riley. He was amused by a conversation
he had overheard at a Club. Two men
were talking about someone who had
become a Roman Catholic. Someone he
didn't know. One of them said to the
other that it was a very pleasant solution
if you could do it. The other one said :
" Certainly ; no bother, no responsibility
. . . everything settled for you." I said
that I did think the Confessional must be
the negation of responsibility. Riley said
that by becoming a Catholic you became
responsible for all your actions. He said
162
Passing By
that before he was a Catholic he felt no
responsibility at all to anything or anyone,
but that the moment you were a Catholic
everything you did and said counted.
Every time you went to Confession you
acknowledged and confirmed your assump-
tion of responsibility. I mentioned a
common friend of ours, O'Neil, who had
been a Catholic all his life and who, though
he was married, had never ceased to live
with a Miss Silvia Thorpe, whom I had
known as an artist. He didn't hide it,
neither did she. Riley said that this
proved his point. O'Neil never dreamt
of going to Confession ; he knew it would
be useless, because he had no intention of
giving up Miss Thorpe, and that being
so, he knew he couldn't get Absolution.
It was a sacrifice to him, a very great
sacrifice, as he Was a believing Catholic.
"That shows," he went on, "that you
don't understand how the thing works.
You and all Protestants think that one
can stroll into the Confessional, wipe the
163
Passing By
slate olean and go on with what you are
doing, however bad it is, with the implied
sanction of the Church. But the fact
remains that practising Catholics who
are living in a way which the Church
condemned do not go to Confession.
Going to Confession entails facing re-
sponsibility instead of evading it." He
said that if what I thought was true,
people like O'Neil would go to Confes-
sion. I must face the fact that he did
not go to Confession and was extremely
unhappy on that account. He would
like to go to the Sacraments but he had
made this great sacrifice with his eyes
open. I said that I had always thought
the Church was lax about such matters.
He said individuals might be lax. The
Church was not responsible for the conduct
of individuals, but the rule of the Church
was absolutely uncompromising. I said
O'Neil might be an extreme case, but
supposing a devout Catholic married
woman had a great man friend, supposing
164
Passing By
he was very much in love with her, but
she was a virtuous woman, faithful to her
husband, she could go on seeing the other
man as much as she liked ? Would the
Church forbid it? Riley said the Church
would forbid sin. Any priest would tell
her that if she thought it might lead to
sin, she must cut it out of her life. I said
that was quite clear, but he was not
telling me what I wanted to know. He
said : " What is it that you want to know ? "
I said I must give it up. I couldn't put
it into words. I said Roman Catholics
were always so matter-of-fact. They
handed one opinions and ideas like choco-
lates wrapped up in silver paper. He
said : " You think that, because you would
sooner walk naked in the streets than
think things out, or call things by their
names. You like leaving them vague.
' Le vague,' Renan said, ' est pire que le
faux.' "
I said, going back to the question of
responsibility, that I had often heard
i65
Passing By
Catholics themselves complain of the want
of responsibility of Catholics. Riley said
that might very well be ; they might lack
a sense of responsibility, just as they
might lack a sense of charity or honesty.
" You think," he said, "that the Church
is perpetually arranging comfortable com-
promises. Nothing is further from the
truth. Nothing is harder on the individual
than certain of the commandments of the
Church with regfard to marriage : for
instance, divorce, and the bearing of
children. Some of the Church's views
were just as hard on the individual as it
was hard on a man, who is going to catch
a train to see his dying child, to be delayed
by a policeman holding up the traffic, but
in order to make traffic possible, you had
to have a policeman, and the individual
couldn't complain however much he might
suffer.
" I know a much harder case than
O'Neil's," he said : " a colleague of mine
who is married and has been completely
i66
Pass ing By
neglected by his wife. On the other hand,
he has been looked after devotedly for
years by another woman, who nursed him
when he was ill and saved his life. He
wants to become a Catholic, but he knows
quite well that the Church will not receive
him unless he were to give up this woman,
whom he adores, and go back to his
wife, who is indifferent to him. What
you don't understand," he said, "is that
the Church is not an air cushion but a
rock."
He said I accused the Church of being
lax, but many people that he knew found
fault with what they called the hardness
of the Church. But as a matter of fact
they had generally to admit that as far as
the human race was concerned the Church
in such matters of morals was always right.
He cited instances of what the Church was
right in condemning. I said that one
did not need to be Roman Catholic to
know that immorality was bad for the
State, and that vice was noxious to the
167
Pass ing By
individual. The ordinary laymen reach
the same conclusions merely by common-
sense.
Riley said there were only two points
of view in the world : the Catholic point
of view or the non-Catholic point of view.
All so-called religions which I could
mention, including my layman's common-
sense view, were either lopped-off branches
of Catholicism or shadows of it, or a blind
aspiration towards it, or a misguided
parallel of it, as of a train that had gone
off the rails, or a travesty of it, sometimes
serious, and sometimes grotesque : a dis-
tortion. The other point of view was the
materialist point of view, which he could
perfectly well understand anyone holding.
It depends, he said, whether you think
human life is casual or divine.
I said I could quite well conceive a phil-
osophy which would be neither materialist
nor Catholic. He quoted Dr Johnson about
everyone having a right to his opinion, and
martyrdom being the test. Catholicism,
1 68
Passing By
he said, had survived the test ; would my
philosophy ?
As far as I was concerned I admitted
that 1 held no opinion for which I was
ready to go to the stake, except, possibly,
that Jane Eyre was an interesting book.
Monday, February 21st.
I heard from Mrs Housman this morn-
ing. She returns to-morrow.
Saturday, February %f)th.
Called on Mrs Housman, and found
her in. Housman was there also. They
asked me to dinner next Monday.
Sunday, February 2'jth. Rosedale.
I am staying with Lady Jarvis. There
is no one else. Lady Jarvis said she
was glad Mrs Housman had returned to
London.
169
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Tuesday, March isi.
Dearest Elsie,
I dined with the Housmans
last night. Only myself, Miss Sarah,
Lady Jarvis, and Godfrey Mellor. Every-
thing as it used to be. Carrington-Smith
came in after dinner. He has not been
inside the house for months. I don't
know what Mrs Housman did nor how it
was done, but it was done, and done most
successfully and quickly! She only came
back a week ago. "Bert" looks quite
different and is perfectly radiant.
George, I gather, hasn't seen her.
They asked him to dinner last night, but
he had an official dinner and couldn't
come. He asked me whether I had seen
her. He said he had been there several
times, but she had always been out. He
is still most depressed and goes nowhere
170
Passing By
unless he is absolutely obliged to. The
Housmans have asked me to spend Easter
at their villa. Lady Jarvis is going, and
Godfrey ; and Housman told me he was
going to ask George. I am going and I
shall stop two or three days in Paris on
the way.
Lavinia Wray has gone to the south of
France with her aunt. The Shamiers
are going to Paris next week. They will
tell you all the news, not that there is
much.
Yrs.
G.
171
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, February lith.
A. told me he had not been to the
country after all on Saturday.
Tuesday, March xst.
Dined with the Housmans, a very agree-
able dinner. Mrs Housman played and
sang after dinner : Brahms' Lieder, and
some Grieg'.
-&•
Wednesday, March 2nd.
A. asked me to luncheon. He told me
he had been so sorry not to be able to go
to the Housmans' last night. He said he
had not seen them yet. He was so busy.
He asked me how Mrs Housman was and
whether Florence had done her good.
&
Thursday, March ^rd.
I told Riley I had been reading Renan's
Souvenirs d'enfance et de jeunesse, and that
Renan said in this book that there was
172
Passing By
nothing in Catholic dogmas which raised
in him a contrary opinion ; nothing either
in the political action or in the spirit of
the Church, either in the past or in the
present, that led him to doubt ; but
directly he studied the " Higher Criticism "
and German text-books his faith in the
Church crumbled. I asked Riley what he
thought of this. He said people treated
German text-books superstitiously then
and they still did so now. If German
text-books dealt with Shakespeare people
could see at once that they were talking
nonsense, and that mountains of erudition
were being built on a false base, a base
which we knew to be false, because we
were English ; but when they dealt with
things more remote, like the Gospels,
people swallowed what they said, and
accepted any of their theories as infallible
dogma. In twenty years' time, he said,
nobody will care two straws for the
" Higher Criticism."
Riley is going away to-morrow
173
P as s i ng By
Friday, March ifth.
Mrs Housman has written to ask me to
come and see her on Sunday afternoon if
I am in London.
Dined with Cunninghame at a restaur-
ant and went to the Palace Music Hall
afterwards.
Saturday, March c^th.
A. is much annoyed at having to stay
with the Foreign Secretary. Dined at the
Club.
Sunday, March 6 th.
Spent the afternoon at Mrs Housman's.
There was nobody there until Housman
came in late just when I was going.
Housman said we must all meet at
Florence. He said he was going to ask
A. "But we never see him now," he
added. He asked me what A. was doing.
I told him he was staying with the Foreign
Secretary. He said, of course he was
right to attend to his official and especially
to his social duties. He said he would
ask him to dinner next week. He asked
174
Passing By
me to dine on Wednesday. Mrs Hous-
man asked me to go to a concert with her
on Tuesday.
Monday, March ~ith.
Dined at the Club.
Tuesday, March ?>th.
Went to a concert in Chelsea with
Mrs Housman, Housman and Miss
Housman. Solway played, and an excel-
lent violinist, Miss Bowden ; Beethoven
Sonata (G Major) and Schubert Quartet
(D Minor). We all enjoyed the music
and the playing. During the interval we
went to see Solway. Housman asked
him to dinner to-morrow.
Wednesday, March ^th.
Dined with the Housmans. Lady
Jarvis, Mrs Campion, Solway, Cunning-
hame, Mrs Baines, and A. and Miss
Housman were there. I sat between
Lady Jarvis and Mrs Campion. After
dinner Mrs Housman asked Solway to
try a song with her, a new English song
175
Passing By
by a boy who has just left the College of
Music. She sang this and after that she
sang all the Winterreise. Housman asked
A. and Mrs Campion to stay with them in
Florence. Mrs Campion cannot get away
this Easter. A. accepted the invitation.
Thursday, March loth.
Went after dinner to Aunt Ruth's.
Uncle Arthur is quite restored to health.
He asked me whether I had been ap-
pointed to Paris, still thinking that I was
in the F.O. There were a great many
people there. Aunt Ruth spoke severely
about A. and said she heard he only went
out in the Bohemian world. I said he
had stayed with the Foreign Secretary
last week.
Friday, March nth.
Dined with Mrs Campion. A. was
there and the Albertis, who are over in
England. A. said he was much looking
forward to Florence. Easter is early this
year.
176
Passing By
Saiurday, March I2fh.
A. has gone to Littlehampton. He has
asked the Housmans and Cunninghame.
I am going to Woking.
Sunday, March i^t/i.
Spent the day with Solway, who played
Bach. Returned by the late train after
dinner.
177
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, March 1/^th.
Dearest Elsie,
I have just come back
from Littlehampton, where I spent Sunday
with George and his sister. The Hous-
mans were asked and Housman went,
but Mrs Housman was not well. I start
on Thursday morning and shall be in
Paris Thursday night and stay there till
Monday. Let us do something amusing.
I should like to go to the play one night.
But you- have probably seen all the best
things hundreds of times. I am going on
to Florence on Monday. I don't think
George has seen much of Mrs Housman.
I dined there last Wednesday. Mrs
Housman sang the whole evening so that
he did not get any talk with her. Godfrey
has been much more cheerful lately and
even suggested going to a music-hall
178
Passing By
one night. Mrs Campion is coming to
Florence too.
I'm sorry I've been so bad about writing
lately. I seem to have had no time and
yet to have done nothing, and there have
been a series of rather tiresome episodes
at the ofifice.
Au revoir till Thursday,
Yours,
G.
179
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, March i\th.
A. came back from the country in a
gloomy state of mind. He said it was
a great mistake to go to the country in
March and that his party had been a
failure. He said bachelors should not
give parties. He asked me to dine with
him, which 1 did. He says he is leaving
on Wednesday but will stop two nights in
Paris. Mrs Campion is travelling with him.
Tuesday, March i^th.
Mrs Housman rang up on the telephone
and told me that a young vocalist was
dining with them to-morrow night. She
wanted a few people to hear her. Would
I come ? Solway was coming.
Dined with Cunninghame at his Club.
He says he has never seen A. so depressed.
Wednesday, March x6th.
Dined with the Housmans. Miss
Housman, Solway and Lady Jarvis were
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there. The vocalist, a Miss Byfield, did
not arrive till after dinner. Mrs Housman
said Miss Byfield was shy and had refused
to dine at the last moment. After dinner
she sang some songs from the classical
composers. She was extremely nervous.
Mrs Housman and Solway say she has
promise. Housman said to me confiden-
tially that he was sure there was no money
in her. The Housmans leave to-morrow.
A. left to-day.
Thursday, March i^th.
Cunninghame left to-day. I had dinner
with Lady Jarvis. She asked me to
travel with her on Saturday. We are
both stopping Sunday night in Paris.
Friday, March i&fh.
Lunched and dined at the Club. Packed
up my things. Am taking some music
with me.
Saturday, March igth. Paris.
Arrived at the Hotel Saint Romain.
Had a pleasant journey with Lady Jarvis.
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Passing By
Sunday, March 20th.
Lady Jarvis took me to see a French
friend of hers, Madame Sainton. It was
her day. There was a large crowd of
men and women in the drawing-room and
the dining-room, where there was tea,
Madeira and excellent sandwiches. The
French take just as much trouble about
preparing a good tea as they do to write
or to dress well. I was introduced to
a famous composer, who talked to me
technically about boxing. I was obliged
to confess that I knew nothing of the art.
It was a pity, I thought, Carrington-Smith
was not there. I was also introduced to
a French author, who asked me what was
the place of Meredith in modern literature,
what les jeunes thought about him. I
was obliged to confess I had never read
one line of Meredith. The French author
thought I despised him. He asked me :
" Qu'est qu'on lit en Angleterre main-
tenant avant de se coucher ? " I said that
I had no idea what les jeunes read but
182
Passing By
that I personally, for a bedside book,
preferred Jane Eyre.
The French author said "Tiens!" He
then asked me what I thought of Bernard
Shaw. I had again to confess that I had
never seen his plays acted. I told him
that when I had time to spare I went to
concerts. He said: "Ah! la musique,"
and I felt he was generalising a whole
movement in young England towards
music.
In the evening we went to the Op^ra
Comique and heard Carmen, which I
greatly enjoyed.
Monday, March ■zist. Florence. Villa Fersen.
We arrived at Florence this morning.
Cunninghame and A. and Mrs Campion
were in the same train. The Housmans
had been there some days already.
Tuesday, March 22nd.
Cunninghame, Mrs Housman, A. and
Mrs Campion went out together. Lady
Jarvis stayed at home. I went later in
183
Passing By
the morning to the Pitti. In the afternoon
they went to Fiesole. Housman went to
call on some friends. Lady Jarvis and I
went for a walk.
Wednesday, March 2T,rd.
We were invited to luncheon by a Mr
Eugene Lowe, a friend of Lady Jarvis.
He has a flat in the town on the Pitti
side of the river. The Housmans and
Cunninghame and myself went. A. and
his sister had luncheon with the Albertis.
Mr Lowe's flat had the peculiarity that
everything in it had been ingeniously '
diverted from its original purpose. The
only other guest besides ourselves was an
ex-diplomatist whom I met last year.
Thursday, March ^\th.
Lady Jarvis has gone to Venice, where
she is staying with friends until next
Monday. While we were sight-seeing this
morning we met a lady called Mrs
Fairburn, who claimed to. be an old friend
of Mrs Housman. Mrs Housman told
1 84
Passing By
me she had met her in America soon after
she married, but that she had never known
her well. She asked us all to luncheon
on Saturday. Mrs Housman accepted
for herself and Housman. Cunninghame
and I also accepted. A. and his sister
were engaged.
In the afternoon Mrs Housman said
she was going to hear a Dominican
preach. Cunninghame and I asked if we
might accompatny her. A. said it was no
use his going as he did not understand
Italian. He was most eloquent.
Friday (Good Friday), March 2c^th.
Mrs Housman spent the whole morning
in church. I went with Cunninghame for
a long walk.
Saturday^ March 26th.
We had luncheon with Mrs Fairburn,
who has a villa on the Fiesole side. She
is a widow and always, she says, lives
abroad ; so much so, she told us, that she
had difficulty in speaking English correctly.
185
Passing By
She gave us no evidence that she spoke
any other language with great correctness.
She told me she was overjoyed at meeting
Mrs Housman, who was her oldest friend.
Housman asked her to dinner to-morrow
night.
Sunday (Easter Sunday), March ■z'^th.
I went for a walk by myself. When I
got back I found various people at the villa
and escaped to my room. Mrs Fairburn
came to dinner. When Housman said he
had been suffering from a headache she
exclaimed : '' Poveretto !" and said she was
feeling rather "Moche" herself Looking
at Mrs Housman, she said to me : " She
is ravissanie, che bellezza ! E vero? "
1 86
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Villa Fersen, Florence,
Easter Monday, March 2?,th.
Dearest Elsie,
We arrived safely and we
are a very happy party. Lac^y Jarvis
has gone to Venice to stay with the
Lumleys, but comes back to-morrow.
George is, of course, immensely happy at
being here, but it isn't really satisfactory.
We haven't seen many people, though we
have been out to luncheon twice : once
with that terrible bore, Eugene Lowe, who
lives in a flat which is the most monstrous
and absurd thing I have ever seen. The
walls are hung with Turkish carpets ; the
chairs and tables with Church vestments ;
the books turn out to be cigarette lamps
and cigar cases ; the writing-table is a
gutted spinet ; and in the middle of the
room there is a large Venetian well,
which he uses for cigarette ashes.
187
Passing By
On Saturday we had luncheon with a
Mrs Fairburn, who professed to be an old
friend of Mrs Housman's. This turned
out to be a gross exaggeration. She is
an affected woman who dresses in what
are meant to be ultra- French clothes, and
she speaks broken English on purpose.
She pretends to be silly, but is far from
being anything of the kind. I can see
now that she has got her eye on Housman.
He was quite charmed by her. She has
arranged an outing next week. I can see
that she is going to stick like a leech, and
she will be, unless I am very much mis-
taken, much worse than Mrs Park or any
of them.
Godfrey Mellor is, I think, liking it,
but he insists on going out by himself, and
every day he goes to some gallery with
a Baedeker, all alone. We always ask
him to come with us, but it is no use.
He says he has got things to do in the
town and off he goes.
We go about mostly all together except
i88
Passing By
for Godfrey, who always manages to
elude us.
I am staying till Monday, then two
days at Mentone, and then home (via
Paris, but only for a night).
Yrs.
G.
189
From the Diary of Godfrey Mel lor
Monday {Easter Monday), March lith.
We all had luncheon with the Albertis.
Lady Jarvis returned in the afternoon
from Venice.
Tuesday^ March 2^th.
Went to the Uffizzi. Housman said he
was going to spend the day in visits.
Wednesday, March ^oth.
Mrs Fairburn came to luncheon.
Housman said when she had gone that
she was a very remarkable woman, so
cultivated, so well read and widely
travelled. He said she ought to have
held some great position. She should
have been an Empress.
I went to the Pitti in the morning and
to the Boboli Gardens in the afternoon.
Thursday, March ^\st.
The Albertis came to luncheon.
Baroness Strong and Mrs Fisk called in
190
Passing By
the afternoon. They both asked us all to
entertainments, but Housman explained
that we had guests ourselves every day.
He asked them to dinner on Sunday, but
they declined.
Friday, April ist.
Housman has bought some miniatures
by a young artist recommended by Mrs
Fairburn. I do not think they are well
done, but I am no judge. A. and Mrs
Campion left.
Saturday, April 2nd.
Mrs Housman suggested having
luncheon in the town and going to Fie-
sole afterwards, but Housman explained,
with some embarrassment, that he had
promised to go with Mrs Fairburn to see
a studio and to have luncheon with her
afterwards.
I leave for London to-night. I am
going straight through. /
191
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Villa Beau Site, Mentone,
Wednesday, April dth.
Dearest Elsie,
Just a line to say I shall
arrive the day after to-morrow, and I can
only stay one night. Godfrey Mellor left
Florence on Saturday, and George and
his sister are on their way back. George
was very sad at going — I think he feels
it's the end — Mrs Housman and Lady
Jarvis are staying on till next Monday,
and I think Housman also. What I fore-
saw has happened more quickly than I
expected. Housman is now the devoted
slave of Mrs Fairburn, and she has
announced her intention of coming to
London in the summer, so this will make
fresh complications.
I am having great fun here. The
Shamiers are here, I am travelling back
with them. I am sorry not to be able to
192
Push I u g B ,
stop more than a night in Paris, but it
really is impossible.
I can't dine at the Embassy on Friday,
I am dining with the Shamiers that night.
But I will come and see you in the morn-
ing, and we might do some shops and
have luncheon together.
Yrs.
G.
193
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, April \th. London.
Back at the office. Tuke came this
morning and said A. would not come to
the office till to-morrow. Cunninghame
does not return until Friday.
Tuesday, April s^th.
A. came to the office. He says that
Housman has returned to London, but
that Mrs Housman and Lady Jarvis will
not be back before next Tuesday.
Thursday, April lih.
Dined with Aunt Ruth. I sat next to
a Mrs de la Poer. She told me she knew
the Housmans. I said I had been staying
with them in F"lorence. She said : "I
suppose Lord Ayton was there." I said
that A. and his sister always spent Easter
in Italy. She said : " And he spends the
summer in Cornwall when Mrs Housman
is there. It is extraordinary how far
194
P <i s -t i n g By
virtuous Roman Catholics will go." I
said Mrs Housman was an old friend of
mine and I preferred not to discuss her.
She said : "Ah, you are right to be loyal
to your Chief, but all London knows
about it." I changed the subject.
Thursday, April i^th.
Mrs Housman has put off coming till
next week. Lady Jarvis spoke to me on
the telephone.
Wednesday, April 20th.
Mrs Housman returned on Monday.
She has asked me to dinner on Sunday.
Thursday, April 2?,th.
A. dined with Aunt Ruth. I went
there after dinner. Uncle Arthur told us
he thought A. would go far, but he thinks
he is in the army. A. is going to the
country on Saturday.
Friday, April 2<)th.
Dined with Lady Jarvis. The Housmans
were there, and Cunninghame. Cunning-
hame told me as -we walked home that he
195
Passing By
had seen Housman with a party of people
at the Carlton last night. Mrs Fairburn
was among them. He says it is a great
pity A. does not go out more. It annoys
people. I told him A. had dined with
Aunt Ruth last night.
The Housmans are not staying long in
London. They have taken the same
house they had last year on the Thames
near Staines. Housman can go up every
day to his office as it is so close to
London.
Saturday, April y^th.
Dined with Cunninghame. He is stay-
ing in London this Sunday. I asked him
if he thought A. was likely to marry. He
said : " Not yet."
Sunday, May ist.
Dined with the Housmans. Cunning-
hame was there, Mrs Fairburn and Miss
Housman. After dinner Mrs Fairburn
asked Mrs Housman to sing. She said
she remembered her singing in America.
196
Passing By
Mrs Housman sang a few Scotch ballads.
Then Miss Housman played. The
Housmans are letting their London house
for the season. They go down to their
house on the Thames at the end of this
week. Housman told me 1 must come
down often.
Mrs Fairburn was very gushing about
Mrs Housman's singing. 1 do not think
she is very musical.
197
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, May ztid.
Dearest Elsie,
I have got two pieces of
news for you. Ralph Logan proposed to
Lavinia Wray and she has refused him.
I don't think you know him ; he is in the
army. But he is Sir Walter Logan's heir
and will inherit, besides a lot of London
property, a most beautiful old house in
Essex, Tudor. Besides that, he is charm-
ing and has been devoted to her for years.
This is for you only, of course. He told
me himself. He has just come back from
India, where he has been for five years.
The first thing he did was to fly to
Lavinia, who has come back from France
and is now in London. He came to see
me yesterday afternoon and told me all
about it. I said something about her
perhaps changing her mind if he was
198
Passing By
persistent. He said there was no chance
of this, he felt sure. Lavinia told him she
would never marry, and she said she was
not going out after this year. I believe she
is going to be a nurse. She used to talk
of this some time ago. The second piece
of news is that George has been offered
to be Governor of Madras. That is also
a secret, of course. I don't know whether
he will accept it or not. Sir Henry, who
is George's godfather, is, George tells me,
tremendously keen about his accepting it.
I don't think he has been seeing much
of the Housmans since she has been back.
She only came back last week. I don't
think she wants to see him. I dined there
on Sunday. There was no one there
except' that extremely tiresome Mrs
Fairburn, who now does what she likes
with Housman. They are not going to
be in London during the summer at all
and are letting their house.
Yrs.
G.
199
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, May 2nd.
Mrs Shamier has asked me to dinner
next Thursday. The invitation surprised
me as I scarcely know her.
Tuesday, May yd.
A. asls:ed me to luncheon to meet Sir
Henry St Clair. Sir Henry is an old
man, over seventy, with very strong views
and a fiery temper. He is his godfather.
Mrs Campion was there. He lives in
Scotland and said he had not been to
London for the last five years. But he
said he was enjoying himself and meant to
go to the Derby. He looks surprisingly
young for his age, not more than sixty.
JFednesdnv, Mar 4.^/1.
Went with the Housmans to hear the
Gilbert & Sullivan Company at Hammer-
smith : Patience ; we enjoyed it greatly.
Patience is a classic. The performance
was adequate. My enjoyment was marred
200
Passing By
by the comments of Mrs Fairburn, who
went with us. She said she thought it
vieuxjeit, and preferred Debussy : a foolish
comparison.
Thursday, May ^th.
I dined with the Shamiers. They Hve
in Upper Brook Street. Mrs Vaughan,
whom I had met staying with Lady Jarvis,
was there ; a young Guardsman and a
Miss Ivy Hollystrop, an American, who,
I beHeve, is a beauty.
I sat next to Mrs Shamier. She asked
me where I had spent Easter. I told her.
She said she did not know the Housmans,
but had heard a great deal about her.
Cunninghame had told her that she sang
quite divinely. I said that Mrs Housman
had received a very sound musical educa-
tion. She asked me what kind of man
Housman was. I said he was a very
generous man and did a lot for charities.
She asked me if 1 had known them a long
time. I said yes, a long time. She said
she remembered Walter Bell's picture
201
Passing By
perfectly and if it was at all like her she
must be a very beautiful woman. I said
it was generally considered to be a faithful
portrait. She asked me if the Housmans
had any children. I said no. Mrs Shamier
said she would like to meet Mrs Housman
very much, but she understood they did
not go out much. I said they were living
in the country.
Friday, May dth.
I dined with Lady Jarvis. She was
alone. She asked me to spend Sunday
week with her in the country. She told
me that Sir Henry St Clair had gone
back to Scotland, much displeased. He
has had a difference with A. He is, she
said, a very dictatorial man.
Saturday, May 1th.
Went down to the Housmans' villa on
the Thames. Mrs Fairburn was there,
but no other guests. Mrs Fairburn asked
Mrs Housman to sing after dinner, but
she declined.
202
Passing By
Sunday, May %th.
Mrs Fairburn and Housman went out
on the river. I sat with Mrs Housman
in the garden. She read aloud from
Chateaubriand's Rend. It sounded, as
she read it, very fine.
203
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, May ^th.
Dearest Elsie,
George has refused Madras.
Sir Henry, who had heard about the offer
from H., who is an intimate friend of his,
came up post haste from Scotland. He
told George he must accept it. George
said he would think it over, and did so for
forty-eight hours, then he made up his
mind, and he settled to refuse it. Sir
Henry stormed and raved and said it
would have broken George's father's heart
if he had been alive, but it was no use.
George was as obstinate as a mule. He
said he liked his present work and he did
not want to leave England. Sir Henry
went straight back to Scotland.
The Housmans have left. I spent
Sunday at Rosedale with Lady Jarvis.
She says that Mrs Fairburn is always
204
Passing By
there and was staying there this Saturday
Quite apart from anything else she is a
very tiresome woman. But she is no fool.
In Housman she had found a gold-mine.
The Shamiers are back. I am dining
there next week. George is depressed.
He is fond of old Sir H. and doesn't like
having annoyed him. Sir H. says he will
never forgive him. I can't understand
why people can't let other people lead
their own lives.
The Compagnie de Cristcd haven't sent
my little chandelier. If you are passing
that way could you ask about it ?
Yrs.
G.
205
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, May ()ih.
I was trying to remember the date a
French colonel had called at the office,
and I consulted Tuke. He did not
remember, but said he would refer to his
diary. I asked him if he kept a diary
regularly. He said he had kept his diary
without missing a day for the last five
years, but he always burnt it every New
Year's Day.
Tuesday, May lath.
A. asked me to dinner. He said he
very seldom saw the Housmans now, but
Housman had asked him to stay there
on Sunday week. He was going next
Sunday to Rosedale. He told me he had
been offered the Governorship of Madras,
and had refused it. He said he could
not live in tropical climates. They made
him ill. He said he hated the summer in
London. He would have a lot of tedious
206
Passing By
dinners. There were several next week
he would be obliged to go to.
Wednesday, May nth.
I dined with Cunninghame. He talked
of the Madras appointment, and said it
was absurd offering it to A. The tropics
made him ill. He was ill even in Egypt.
He said Housman had a small flat in
London, where he stays during the week.
Thursday, May 12 th.
Cunninghame dined at Aunt Ruth's. I
went after dinner. So did A. I could
see Aunt Ruth was pleased. Uncle
Arthur confused Cunninghame with A.
and congratulated C. on his answers in
the House of Lords.
Friday, May T-^th.
Lady Jarvis gave a small musical party,
which was what I call a large musical
party. Someone sang Russian songs,
and Bernard Sachs played Mozart on the
harpsichord. It would have been very
enjoyable had there not been such a
207
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crowd. Housman was there, but not Mrs
Housman.
Saturday, May i^th. Rosedale.
Went down to Staines this afternoon.
Mrs Housman, A., Cunninghame, Miss
Macdonald, and Mrs Campion were there.
Housman was expected and had told Mrs
Housman he was coming by a later train,
but he sent a telegram saying he had been
detained in London.
Sunday, May i^tk. Rosedale.
It poured with rain all day, so we sat
indoors. Mrs Housman played and sang.
She drove to church in the morning in a
shut fly.
208
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, May i6th.
Dearest Elsie,
I have just come back
from Rosedale, where we had a most
amusing Sunday, rather spoilt by the
incessant rain. Of course it cleared up
this morning, and it's now a glorious day.
The Housmans were asked and she came,
and he was expected by a later train, but
chucked at the last minute. Nobody was
there except Mrs Campion, Freda, and
Godfrey.,
We had a lot of music. Mrs Housman
never let George have one moment's
conversation with her. He is quite miser-
able. It is quite clear that she has cut
him out of her life. I think it would have
been better if he had gone to Madras.
It's too late now, they've appointed some-
one else.
o 209
Passing B ij
Last Tuesday I went to a huge dinner-
party at Lady Arthur Mellor's, Godfrey's
aunt. Sir Arthur is quite gaga and took
me for George the whole evening. I sat
between an EngHsh blue stocking and the
wife of one of the Russian secretaries.
She told me rather pointedly that these
were the kind of people she preferred.
" Ici,"she said, "on voit de vrais Anglais,
des gens vraiment bien." There was no
gainsaying that.
But of course the chief news, which
you probably have heard, is that Louise
Shamier has left her husband, and she is
going to marry Lavroff — that is to say, if
she gets a divorce. He apparently refused
to do the necessary in the way of making
a divorce possible, so she has left him and
has gone to Italy with Lavroff. Every-
body thinks it is the greatest pity, and
1, personally, am miserable about it. The
only comfort is that it might have been
George. Yrs.
G.
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, May i6th.
Caught a bad cold at Rosedale from
walking in the wet.
Tuesday, May i-jth.
Cold worse. Saw the doctor, who said
I must go to bed and not think of going
to the office.
Wednesday, May iSiA.
Stayed in bed all day and read a book
called Sir Archibald Malmaison, by Julian
Hawthorne.
Thursday, May i<)th.
Better. Got up.
Friday, May -ioth.
Went to the office.
Saturday, May 2isi.
Went down to Staines to the Housmans'.
Found Lady Jarvis, A. and Mrs Fairburn.
211
Pass ing By
At dinner Mrs Fairburn talked of the
Shamier divorce. Mrs Housman said she
admired people who behaved like that,
and she thought it far better than a hidden
liaison. Mrs Fairburn agreed, and said
there was nothing she despised so much
as dishonesty and concealment.
Sunday, May '2.2nd.
It again rained all Sunday, so we were
unable to go on the river. It cleared up
in the evening. Housman took Mrs
Fairburn out in a punt.
Housman told us he had taken for the
summer the same house they had last
year at Carbis Bay. He invited A. to
come there and to stay as long as he liked.
A. said he would be yachting on the west
coast this summer and he would certainly
pay them a visit. Housman said Lady
Jarvis must come, and he is going to ask
Cunninghame. Mrs Fairburn said it was
a pity she would not be able to come, but
she always spent August and September
in France.
212
Passing By
Monday, May i^rd.
I had luncheon with Cunninghame at
his Club. He said that A. does not seem
quite so depressed as usual.
Dined at the Club.
Tuesday, May i/^th.
A. is giving a dinner to some French
d^puUs at his Club. Cunninghame and I
have both been invited.
Wednesday, May i^th.
Dined at the Club with Solway. Went
to the Opera afterwards, for which Solway
had been given two places. Debussy's
Pelleas et MMsande. We both enjoyed it.
Thursday, May idth.
Dined with Aunt Ruth. I had a long
talk with her after dinner. She asked
after Riley, whom she knows well. " I
hear," she said, " he has become a Roman
Catholic ; of course he will always have
a parti-pfis now. I wonder if he has
realised that." Uncle Arthur joined in
the conversation and thought we were
213
Pausing By
talking" of someone else, but of whom I
have no idea, as he said it all came from
not going to school. Riley has been to
three schools, besides Oxford, Heidelberg
and Berlin universities, and has taken
his degree in French law. He, Riley, is
staying with me to-morrow night.
Friday, May zith.
I told Riley that I had heard a lady
discussing his conversion lately, and that
she had wondered whether he realised
that he would have a parti-pris in future.
Riley said : " I rather hope I shall. Do
you really think one becomes a Catholic
to drift like a sponge on a sea of indecision,
or to be like an ^olian harp ? Don't you
yourself think," he said, "that parti-pris
is rather a mild term for such a tremendous
decision, such a venture} Would your
friend think parti-pris the right expression
to use of a man who nailed his colours to
the mast during a sea-battle? It is a
good example of miosis." I asked him
what miosis meant. He said that if I
214
Passing By
wanted another example it would be
miosis to say that the French Revolution
put Marie Antoinette to considerable
inconvenience. Besides which, it was
putting the cart before the horse to say
you would be likely to have a parti-pris,
when by the act of becoming a Catholic
you had proclaimed the greatest of all
possible parti-pris. It was like saying to
a man who had enlisted in the Army: " You
will probably become very pro-British."
"You won't," he said, " think things out."
I said that it was not I who had made the
comment, but my aunt, Lady Mellor.
Saturday, May z%th.
A. has gone to the country. Dined at
the Club.
Sunday, May i<)th.
Had luncheon with Lady Maria. The
company consisted of Hollis, the play-
wright, and his wife, Miss Flora Routledge,
who, I believe, began to write novels in
the sixties, Sir Hubert Taylor, the Acade-
215
Passing By
mician, and his wife, and Sir Horace
Main, K.C. I was the only person
present not a celebrity.
LadyMaria asked me howthe Housmans
were. She had not seen them for an age.
I said the Housmans were living in the
country.
She said I must bring A. to luncheon
one Sunday. " Who would he like to
meet ? " she asked ; " I am told he only
likes musicians, and I am so unmusical, I
know so few. But perhaps he only likes
beautiful musicians." I said I was sure
A. would be pleased to meet anyone she
asked. She said : " I'm sure it's no use
asking him ; he's sure to be away on
Sundays." I said A. usually spent Sunday
at Littlehampton. "Or on the Thames,"
Lady Maria said.
She said she hadn't seen the Housmans
for a year. She heard Mr Housman had
dropped all his old friends.
216
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Monday, May 30M.
Dearest Elsie,
I have been terribly bad
about writing, and I haven't written to
you for a fortnight. I got your letter last
week, and was immensely amused by
all you say. Sunday week I stayed with
Edith, a family party, but rather fun all
the same. I went to the opera twice this
week and once the week before. Nothing
very exciting. The Housmans haven't
got a box this year. Yesterday I stayed
with them at Staines. There was no one
else there except Miss Housman. Thank
heaven, no Mrs Fairburn ! George, by the
way, hasn't the remotest idea of " Bert's"
infidelities. I believe he thinks him a
model husband. He is still in low spirits,
but rather better because he is fearfully
busy. He has been going out more lately,
which is a good thing, and he has been
217
Passing By
entertaining foreigners and official people,
too. People are now saying he is going
to marry Lavinia Wray That story has
only just reached the large public. They
are a little bit out of date. As a matter
of fact, Lavinia has quite settled to go in
for nursing, but she hasn't broken it yet
to her relations. Louise will, I believe,
get her divorce. They have left Italy
and gone to Russia, where Lavroff has
got a large property.
I have got a terribly busy week next
week, dinners nearly every night, besides
balls. So don't be surprised if you don't
hear from me for some time.
Yrs.
G.
218
From the. Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, May yith.
Heard to-day from Gertrude. She and
Anstruther arrive next week for three
months' leave from Buenos Aires. They
are going to stay at the Hans Crescent
Hotel. Anstruther does not expect to go
back to Buenos Aires. They hope to get
Christiania or Belgrade. They ask me to
inform Aunt Ruth and Uncle Arthur of their
arrival, which I must try to remember to do,
as Gertrude is Aunt Ruth's favourite niece.
Tuesday, May ^ist.
A. is not at all well. He says he has
got a bad headache, Ijut he has to go to
an official dinner to-night. He is also
most annoyed at having been chosen as
a delegate to the Conference that takes
place in Canada in August. This, he
says, will prevent his doing any yachting
this year as he will not be back before the
end of September.
219
Passing By
Wednesday, June \st.
Riley came to see me at the office and
asked me whether I could put him up for
a few nights. I would with pleasure, but
I warned him that I should be having
most of my meals with Solway, who is up
in London for a week.
Thursday, June ^nd.
Went to Aunt Ruth's after dinner and
remembered to tell her that Gertrude was
arriving next week. Aunt Ruth was glad
to hear the news and said she hoped
Edmund would get promotion this time.
He had been passed over so often. I said
I hoped so also, but I suppose I did not
display enough enti^usiasm, as Aunt Ruth
said I didn't seem to take much interest
in my brother-in-law's career. I assured
her I was fond of Gertrude and had the
greatest respect for my brother-in-law.
Uncle Arthur said: "What, Anstruther?
The man's a pompous ass." Aunt Ruth
was rather shocked.
220
Passing By
Friday, July yd.
Solway has arrived in London. He is
staying at St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea.
He is taking me to a concert to-morrow
night. Riley has also arrived. He said
he would prefer not to go to a concert.
Saturday, June /^th.
The concert last night was a success.
Miss Bowden played Bach's Chaconne.
Solway was greatly excited and said
loudly : " I knew she could do it ; I knew
she could do it."
Sunday, June ^th.
A. hasn't been at all well this week, and
he has put off staying with the Housmans
to-day. They asked me, but as Solway
and Riley were here I did not like to go.
Cunninghame has asked me to dinner
next week to meet his cousin, Mrs Caryl.
I shall have to conceal from Gertrude
that I am going to meet them, as Caryl
was promoted over his head and she
would think it disloyal on my part.
221
Passing By
Solway and Riley had luncheon with
me at the Club. In the afternoon I went
to hear Miss Bowden play at a Mrs
Griffith's house, where Solway is staying.
We could not persuade Riley to come. I
had supper there with Solway. Riley
went to more literary circles and had
supper with Professor Langdon, the
Shakespearean critic.
222
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, June 6th.
Dearest Elsie,
Please write down in your
engagement book that you are dining
with me on Thursday as well as on
Monday. I have asked Godfrey Mellor
to meet you on Thursday. George is laid
up with appendicitis, and 1 am afraid he
is very bad indeed. The doctors are
going to decide to-day whether they are
to operate immediately or not. He is at
a nursing home in Welbeck Street. His
sister is looking after him. He was going
to Canada in August. I don't suppose he
will be able to now.
I am looking forward to seeing you
quite tremendously.
Yours,
G.
22
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, June 6th.
A. has got appendicitis and has been
taken to a nursing home. I have just
heard he is to have an operation to-morrow
morning.
Tuesday, Jicne ith.
A.'s operation was successfully per-
formed, but he is still very ill. Cunning-
hame has been to Welbeck Street this
morning and saw his sister. She is most
anxious. He was, of course, not allowed
to see A.
Wednesday, June ith.
I sat up late last night talking to Riley.
Thursday, June ^th.
Cunninghame went to Welbeck Street
and saw the doctor. He says there is
every chance of his recovery. Apparently
the danger was in having to do the
operation at once, while there was still
224
Pass i ng B If
inflammation. It was not exactly appendi-
citis, but Cunninghame's report was too
technical for my comprehension.
I dined with Cunninghame to-day to
meet Mrs Caryl. I had not met her
husband before. He is, I thought,
slightly stiff. Lady Jarvis was there also.
She was much disturbed about A.'s illness.
Friday, June lotk.
Gertrude and Edmund Anstruther
arrived yesterday. I dined with them
to-night. Edmund said the way diplomats
were treated was a scandal. The hard-
working members of the profession were
always passed over. The best posts were
given to men outside the profession. No
conscientious man could expect to get on in
such a profession. If he was passed over
this time he would not stand it any longer,
but he would leave the Service altogether.
The Foreign Office, he said, was so weak.
They never backed up a subordinate who
took a strong line. They always climbed
down. I wondered what Edmund had
p 225
Passing By
been taking a strong line about in Buenos
Aires. Gertrude agreed. She said they
had been there for three years without
leave, and if they did not get a good post
she would advise Edmund to retire and
get something in the City. There were
plenty of firms in the city who would
jump at getting Edmund. She mentioned
the Housmans and said she knew they
were friends of mine, and didn't want to
say anything against them, but she had
met many people in Buenos Aires who
knew Mrs Housman intimately, and said
she was rather a dangerous woman. I
asked in what way she was dangerous.
Gertrude said : " Perhaps you do not know
she is a Roman Catholic." I said I had
known this for years, but she never talked
of it. " That's just what I mean," said
Gertrude ; " they are far too subtle, and I
am afraid too underhand to talk of it
openly. They lead you on." I asked
Gertrude if she thought Mrs Housman
wished to convert me. She said most
226
Passing By
certainly. Her friends in Buenos Aires
had told her she had made many converts.
It was the only thing she cared for, and
even if she didn't, Roman Catholics were
obliged to do so. It was only natural, if
they thought we all went to hell if we
were not converted.
I said I was not sure Roman Catholics
did believe that. Gertrude and Edmund
said I was wrong. I could ask anyone.
Gertrude repeated she had no wish to say
anything against Mrs Housman, and she
was convinced she was a good woman
according to her lights.
Edmund said there had been many
conversions in the Diplomatic Service.
He was convinced this was part of a
general conspiracy. If you wanted to get
on in the Diplomatic Service you had
better be a Roman Catholic. Of course
those who did not choose to sacrifice their
conscience, their independence, their tradi-
tions, and were loyal to the Church and
the State, suffered. I said I didn't quite
227
Passing By
see where loyalty to the State came in.
Edmund said : " How could you be loyal
to the State when you were under the
authority of an Italian Bishop?" I must
know that the Italian Cardinals were
always in the majority. I said that, con-
sidering the number of Catholics in
England, compared with the number of
Catholics in other countries, I should be
surprised to see a majority of English
Cardinals at the Vatican. I said Edmund
wanted England to be a Protestant country,
and at the same time to have the lion's
share in Catholic affairs. Edmund said
that was not at all what he meant. What
he meant was that an Englishman should
be loyal to his Church, which was an
integral part of the State.
I said there were many Englishmen
who would prefer the State to have
nothing to do with the Church. Edmund
said there were many Englishmen who
did not deserve the name of Englishmen.
For instance, Caryl, who was now Second
228
Passing By
Secretary at Paris, had been promoted
over his head three years ago. What was
the reason ? Mrs Caryl was a Roman
CathoHc and Caryl had been converted
soon after his marriage. I foolishly said
that the Caryls were now in London,
and when Edmund asked me how I
knew this I said that Aunt Ruth had
told me.
This raised a storm, as it appears that
Aunt Ruth does know the Caryls and asks
them to dinner when they are in London.
Edmund said he would talk to Aunt Ruth
about them seriously. I asked him as a
favour to do no such thing. And Gertrude
told him not to be foolish, and added
magnanimously that Mrs Caryl was a nice
woman, if a little fast.
For a man who has lived all his life
abroad Edmund Anstruther is singularly
deeply imbued with British prejudice.
They are staying in London until the
middle of July. Then they are going on
a round of visits. Edmund is confident
229
Passing By
that he will get Christiania. I feel that
it is more than doubtful.
Riley went back to Shelborough to-day.
Saturday, June wth.
Received a telegram from Housman,
askine me to go to Staines. I went down
by the afternoon train, and found Lady
Jarvis, Miss Housman and Carrington-
Smith. Housman was anxious for news
of A. I told him I believed he was now
out of danger, but that it would be a long
time before he was quite well again.
Housman said he must certainly come to
Cornwall. I said he had intended to go
to Canada for a Conference, but would be
unable to do so now. Housman said that
was providential.
Sunday, June 12th.
A fine day, but the river was crowded
and hardly enjoyable. I sat with Mrs
Housman in the garden in the evening.
The others went on the river again. Mrs
Housman asked me if I had seen A. I
said he was not allowed to see anyone.
230
Passing By
Monday, Jtme i^th.
A. is getting on as well as can be ex-
pected. There appears to be no doubt of
his recovery. Cunninghame is going to
see him to-day.
Tuesday, June 14M.
Cunninghame says that A. wants to see
me. I am to go there to-morrow.
Dined with Hope, who was at Oxford
with me. He is just back from Russia,
where he has been to make arrangements
for producing some play in London. He
thinks of nothing now but the stage, and
a play of his is going to be produced at
the Court Theatre. I promised to go and
see it. He spoke of Riley, and I told him
he had become a Roman Catholic. Hope
said he regarded that as sinning against
the light. He said no one at this time of
day could believe such things.
Wednesday, June i^th.
I went to see A. at Welbeck Street.
He has been very ill and looks white and
thin. His sister was there, but I had
231
Pass in g By
some conversation with him alone. I
told him all the news I could think of,
which was not much. He said he liked
seeing people, but was not allowed more
than one visitor a day. He had got a
very good nurse. Housman had sent him
grapes and magnificent fruit every day.
He said he would like to see Mrs Hous-
man, but supposed that was impossible, as
she never came to London now. He said
Cunninghame had been very good to him,
and had put off going to Ascot to look
after him.
I wrote to Mrs Housman this evening
and grave her A.'s messagfe.
Thursday, June l6th.
Dined with Aunt Ruth. Gertrude and
Edmund were there. Edmund said to
Aunt Ruth that he had heard the Caryls
were in London. Aunt Ruth said she
had no idea of this, and she would ask
them to dinner next Thursday. Aunt
Ruth asked a good many diplomats to
meet Edmund, and they had a long talk
232
Passing By
after dinner about their posts. They
called Edmund their "Cher collegue."
Edmund enjoyed himself immensely.
Uncle Arthur cannot bear him, nor,
indeed, any diplomats, and it is, 1 think,
the chief cross of his life that Aunt Ruth
asks so many of them to dinner.
Aunt Ruth asked after A. and said that
she had been to inquire.
Friday, June \']th.
Received a letter from Mrs Housman,
saying she was coming up to London to-
morrow, and was going to stay with Lady
Jarvis till Monday. She would go and
.see A. on Sunday afternoon if convenient.
She asked me to ring up the nurse and
find out. I did so and arranged for her
to call at four o'clock.
Saturday, June lith.
I dined with Lady Jarvis. There was
no one there but Mrs Housman and my-
self. Cunninghame is staying somewhere
with friends of the Caryls.
233
Passing By
Sunday, June i^th.
I had luncheon with Aunt Ruth.
Edmund and Gertrude were there, but no
one else. Edmund has been appointed to
Berne. It is not what he had hoped, but
better than any of us expected. He said
Berne might become a most important
post in the event of a European war.
Monday, June 20th.
Dined with the Caryls at the Ritz.
Cunninghame was there and Miss Holly-
strop. Mrs Vaughan asked me whether
it was true that A. had become a Roman
Catholic. She had heard M rs H ousman had
converted him. Cunninghame deftly turned
the conversation on account of Mrs Caryl.
We all went to the opera — Faust.
Tuesday, June 2isf.
I went to see A. He told me Mrs
Housman had been to see him. He is
still in bed, but looks better.
Wednesday, June -z^nd.
Barnes of the P.O. came to the office
234
Passing By
this morning. He asked after A. He
said he had heard that the real cause of
his illnesswas his passion for MrsHousman,
who would have nothing to do with him
unless he was converted. Cunninghame
said he wondered he could talk such
nonsense.
Thursday, June 2yd.
Went to Aunt Ruth's after dinner. The
Caryls were there, and Gertrude and
Edmund came after dinner. Heated argu-
ments were going on about the situation
in Russia, Edmund taking the ultra-
conservative point of view, much to the
annoyance of Aunt Ruth and Uncle
Arthur, who felt even more strongly on
the matter because he thought they were
discussing the French Revolution.
Friday, funei/^ih.
Dined with Lady Jarvis ; she was alone.
She said Mrs Housman was coming up
again to-morrow. The fact is, she says,
Staines is intolerable now on Sundays.
235
Passing By
Mrs Fairburn comes down almost every
Sunday. She overwhelms Mrs Housman
with her gush and her pretended silliness.
Housman thinks her the most wonderful
woman he has ever met.
Saturday, Jjine 'ic^th.
Went down to S to stay with Riley.
Riley lives in a small villa surrounded with
laurels. A local magnate came to dinner,
who is suspected of being about to present
some expensive masterpieces to the public
gallery.
Sunday, June 26tk.
Riley went to Mass in the morning. I
sat in his smoking-room, which is a litter
of books and papers and exceedingly
untidy. A geologist came to luncheon,
Professor Langer, a naturalised German.
When we were walking in the garden
afterwards, he said he could not under-
stand how Riley reconciled his creed with
plain facts of geology. But Riley's case
surprised him less than that of another of
236
Passing By
his colleagues, who was a great authority
on geology, and nevertheless a devout
Catholic, and not only never missed Mass
on Sundays, but had told him, Langer,
that he fully subscribed to every point of
the Catholic Faith. It was true he was
an Irishman, but politically he was not at
all fanatical, and not even a Home -Ruler.
In the afternoon we had tea with the
magnate, whose house is full of Academy
pictures. I now understand what happens
to that great quantity of pictures we see
once at the Academy and then never
again. An art critic was invited to tea
also. He had, I believe, been invited
here to persuade the magnate in question
to present some very modern piece of art
to the city. He seemed disappointed
when he saw the pictures on the walls,
and when the magnate asked his opinion
of a composition called A Love Letter, he
said he did not think the picture a very
good one. The magnate said he regretted
not having bought Home Thoughts, by
237
Passing By
the same painter, which was undoubtedly
superior.
We dined alone, and I told Riley what
Professor Langer had said. He said :
" Most Protestants, whether they have any
religion or not, attribute Protestant notions
to the Catholic Church. What these
people say shows to what extent the con-
ception of Rome has been distorted by
their being saturated with Protestant
ideas. Mallock says some>vhere that the
Anglicans talk of the Catholic Church as
if she were a lapsed Protestant sect, and
they attack her for being false to what
she has never professed. He says they
don't see the real difference between the
two Churches, which is not in this or
that dogma, but in the authority on which
all dogma rests. The Professors you
quote take for granted that Catholics base
their religion, as Protestants do, on the
Bible solely, and judged from that point of
view she seems to them superstitious and
dishonest. But Catholics believe that
238
Passing By
Christ guaranteed infallibility to the
Church in perpetuum : perpetual infalli-
bility. Catholics discover this not at first
from the Church as doctrine, but from
records as trustworthy human documents,
and they believe that the Church being
perpetually infallible can only interpret
the Bible in the right way. They believe
she is guided in the interpretation of the
Bible by the same Spirit which inspired
the Bible. She teaches us more about the
Bible. She says this is what the Bible
teaches."
He said : " Mallock makes a further
point. It is not only Protestant divines who
talk like that. 1 1 is your advanced thinkers,
men like Langer and his colleagues.
They utterly disbelieve in the Protestant
religion ; they trust the Protectants in
nothing else, but at the same time they
take their word for it, without further
inquiry, that Protestantism is more reason-
able than Catholicism. If they have
destroyed Protestantism they conclude
239
Passing By
they must have destroyed Catholicism a
fortiori. With regard to Langer's geo-
logical friend, it doesn't make a pin's
difference to a Catholic whether evolution
or natural selection is true or false.
Neither of these theories pretends to ex-
plain the origin of life. Catholics believe
the origin of life is God." He had heard
a priest say, not long ago: "A Catholic
can believe in evolution, and in evolution
before evolution, and in evolution before
that, if he likes, but what he must believe
is that God made the world and in it mind,
and that at some definite moment the
mind of man rebelled against God."
Monday, June ilth.
A. telephoned for me. I saw him this
afternoon. His room was full of flowers.
He will not be allowed to get up till the
end of the week. As soon as he is allowed
to go out the doctor says he ought to go
away and get some sea air. There is no
question of his going to Canada. The
Housmans have asked him to go to
240
Passing B y
Cornwall and he is going there as soon as
he can. He asked me when I was going.
I said at the end of the month, if that
would be convenient to him.
Tuesday, June i%th.
Finished Renan's Souvenirs d'Enfance et
de Jeunesse. He says : " Je regrettais par
moments de n'etre pas protestant, afin de
pouvoir etre philosophe sans cesser d'etre
Chretien. Puis je reconnaissais qu'il n'y
a que les Catholiques qui soient conse-
quents." Riley's argument. Dined at
the Club.
Wednesday, June i^th.
Dined with Hope at a restaurant in
Soho. Quite a large gathering, with no
one I knew. We had dinner in a private
room. Two journalists — Hoxton, who
writes in one of the Liberal newspapers,
and Brice, who edits a weekly newspaper
— had a heated argument about religion.
Brice is and has always been an R.C.
Hoxton's views seemed to me violent but
Q 241
Passing By
undefined. He said, as far as I under-
stood, that the Eastern Church was far
nearer to early Christian tradition than
the Western Church, and that by not
defining things too narrowly and by not
having an infallible Pope the Greeks
had an inexpressible advantage over the
Romans. Upon which someone else who
was there said that the Greeks believed
in the infallibility of the First Seven
Councils ; they believed their decisions to
be as infallible as any papal utterance,
and that dogma had been defined once
and for all by the Councils. Brice said
this was quite true, and while the Greeks
had shut the door, the Catholic Church
had left the door open. Besides which, he
argued, what was the result of the action
of the Greeks ? Look at the Russian
Church. As soon as it was separated it
gave birth to another schism and that
schism resulted in the rise of about a
hundred religions, one of which had for
one of its tenets that children should be
242
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strangled at their birth so as to inherit
the Kingdom of Heaven without delay.
That, said Brice, is the result of schism.
The other man said that there was no
religion so completely under the control
of the Government as the Russian. The
Church was ultimately in the hands of
gendarmes. Hoxton said that in spite
of schisms, and in spite of anything the
Government might do, the Eastern Church
retained the early traditions of Christianity.
Therefore, if an Englishman wanted to
become a Catholic, it was absurd for him
to become a Roman Catholic. He should
first think of joining the Eastern Church
and becoming a Greek Catholic. The
other man, whose name I didn't catch,
asked why, in that case, did Russian
philosophers become Catholics and why
did Solovieff, the Russian philosopher,
talk of the pearl Christianity having
unfortunately reached Russia smothered
under the dust of Byzantium ?
Brice said the Greek Church was
243
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schismatic and the Anglican Church was
heretical and that was the end of the
matter. Hoxton said: "My philosophy
is quite as good as yours." Brice said it
was a pity he could neither define nor
explain his philosophy. Hope, who was
bored by the whole argument, turned the
conversation on to the Russian stage.
Thursday, June y>th.
Dined with Aunt Ruth. After dinner
I sat next to a Russian diplomatist who
knew Riley. He said he was glad he
had become a Catholic — he himself was
Orthodox. He evidently admired the
Catholic religion. He said, among other
things, how absurd it was to think that
such floods of ink had been used to prove
the Gospel of St John had not been
written by St John. He said, even if it
wasn't, the Church has said it was written
by St John for over a thousand years.
She has made it her own. He himself
saw no reason to think it was not written
by St John. Uncle Arthur, who caught
244
Pass ing By
the tail end of this conversation, said the
authorship of John Peel was a subject
of much dispute. Gertrude wasn't there ;
they have gone to the country.
Friday, July ist
Dined with Lady Jarvis. Cunninghame
was there and a large gathering of people.
More people came after dinner and there
was music, but such a crowd that I could
not get near enough to listen so 1 gave it
up and stayed in another room. Lady
Jarvis told me Mrs Housman is going
down to Cornwall next Monday.
Saturday, July ^oth. Grey Farm,
Carbis Bay.
Arrived this evening after a hot and
disagreeable journey. The Housmans
are here alone. Housman goes back to
London on Tuesday. A. is coming down
here as soon as he is fit to travel. He is
still very weak.
Sunday, July ^ist
The Housmans went to Mass. Father
Stanway came to luncheon. He said he
245
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had been giving instruction to an Indian
boy who is being brought up as an R.C.
I asked him if it was difificult for an Indian
to understand Christian dogma. Father
Stanway said that the child had amazed
him. He had been telling him about the
Trinity and the Indian had said to him :
" I see — ice, snow, rain — all water."
Monday, August ist.
Housman played golf. Mrs Housman
took me to the cliffs and began reading out
Les Miserables, which I have never read.
Tuesday, August znd.
Housman left early this morning. We
sat on the beach and read Les Miserables.
Wed/iesdav, August ^rd.
Lady Jarvis arrives to-morrow. We
continued Les Miserables in the afternoon
and after dinner. Mrs Housman said
that some conversations and the reading
of certain passages in books were like
events. Once or twice in her life she had
come across sentences in a book which,
246
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although they had nothing extraordinary
about them and expressed things anyone
might have thought or said, were like a
revelation, or a solution, and seemed to
be written in letters of flame and had a
permanent effect on her whole life ; one
such sentence was the following from Les
Miserables : " Ne craignons jamais les
voleurs ni les meutriers. Ce sont la les
dangers du dehors, les petits dangers.
Craignons nous-m^mes. Les prejuges,
voila les voleurs ; les vices, voila les
meutriers. Les grands dangers sont au
dedans de nous. Qu'importe ce qui
menace notre tete ou notre bourse ! " She
said : " Of course this has never prevented
me from feeling frightened when I hear
a scratching noise in the night. That
paralyses me with terror."
Thursday, August \th.
We continued our reading. The
weather has been propitious. Lady
Jarvis arrived in the evening. We con-
tinued our reading after dinner.
247
Passing By
Friday^ August ^th.
A. arrived this evening. He was ex-
hausted after the journey and went to bed
at once. Housman arrives to-morrow —
he is only staying till Monday.
Saturday, August 6th.
A. sat in the garden and Mrs Housman
read out some stories by H. G. Wells
from a book called The Plattner Story,
which we all enjoyed.
Housman arrived in the evening. A.
is not yet strong enough to walk. He
sits in the garden all day. The weather
is perfectly suited to an invalid.
Sunday, August "jth.
Housman invited Father Stanway to
luncheon. He and Housman talked of
politicians and popularity and the Press and
to what extent their reputation depended
on it. Housman said it was death to a
politician not to be mentioned. A politician
needed popularity among the public as
much as an actor did. Father Stanway
248
Passing By
said it was a double-edged weapon and
that those who lived by it risked perishing
by it. Housman said Gladstone and
Beaconsfield had lived by it successfully.
Father Stanway said it depends whether
you want to be famous or whether you
want to get things done. A man can do
anything in the world if he doesn't mind
not getting the credit for it. Father
Stanway said nobody realised this better
than Lord Beaconsfield. He said some-
where that it was private life that governs
the world and that the more you were
talked about the less powerful you were.
• A. is a little better. I went for a walk
with Father Stanway in the afternoon.
I asked him a few questions about the
system of Confession. He said the
Sacrament of Penance was a Divine
Institution. I asked him if the practice
did not lead to the shirking of responsi-
bility and the dulling of the conscience on
the part of those who went to Confession.
He said Confession was not an opiate but
249
P as si ng By
a sharp and bitter medicine, disagreeable
to take but leaving a clean after-taste
in the mouth. I gave him a hypothetical
case of a man being in love with a
Catholic married woman. If the woman
was a practising Catholic and faithful to
her husband, and if she continued to be
friends with the man who was in love
with her, would she confess her conduct
and, if so, would the priest approve of
the conduct ? Father Stanway said it was
difficult to judge unless one knew the
whole facts. If the woman knew she was
acting in a way which might lead to sin
or even to scandal — that is to say, in
a way which would have a bad effect on
others — she would be bound to confess it.
If a woman asked him his advice in such
a case he would strongly advise her to
put an end to the relationship. I said :
"You wouldn't forbid it?" He said:
"The Church forbids sin, and penitents
when they receive Absolution undertake to
avoid the occasions of sin." He said he
250
Passing By
could not tell me more without knowing
more of the facts. Cases were sometimes
far more complicated than they appeared
to be, but however complicated they were,
there was no doubt as to the attitude of the
Church towards that kind of sin and to
the advisability of avoiding occasions that
might bring it about.
Monday, August ?>th.
Housman went back to London.
Cunninghame arrives to-morrow. A.
walked as far as the beach this morning.
In the afternoon Lady Jarvis took him
for a drive. Mrs Housman went into the
town to do some shopping.
Tuesday, August gth.
We all went for a drive in a motor to
a village with a curious name and had tea
in a farm-house. Cunninghame arrived in
time for dinner. He has been staying at
Cowes.
251
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Carbis Bay,
Wed?iesday, August loth.
Dearest Elsie,
I arrived last night from
Cowes. I found Mrs Housman, Lady
Jarvis, George and Godfrey.
George is very much better, but he is
still weak and can't get about much. He
is not allowed to play golf yet. He sits
in the garden , and goes for a mild walk
once a day. Lady Jarvis says that Mrs
Housman is very unhappy. In the first
place, her home is intolerable. Mrs
Fairburn makes London quite impossible
for her. It is a wonder that she is not
here, but as Housman is in London there
is nothing to be surprised at. In the
second place, Lady Jarvis thinks that Mrs
Housman would much rather George
hadn't come, but she couldn't help it as
Housman asked him.
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We do things mostly altogether now.
1 am staying a fortnight, then I go to
Worsel for a week and to Edith's till the
end of September ; then London. Lady
Jarvis says that she is sure Mrs Housman
will not spend the winter in London.
Write to me here and tell me about the
Mont Dore. I have been there once and
think it is an appalling place.
Yrs.
G.
253
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Wednesday, August \oth.
A. has been doing too much, the doctor
says, and he is not to be allowed out of
the garden for a few days. Mrs Housman
and Lady Jarvis take turns in reading to
him aloud. We have finished the Wells
book and we are now reading Midshipman
Easy.
Thursday, August nth.
I went for a walk with Cunninghame.
He said his favourite book was John
Inglesant and was surprised that I had not
read it. He has it with him and has lent
it to me.
Friday, August 12th.
It rained all day. We spent the day
reading aloud.
Saturday, August 13//^.
A. is much better and went for a walk
with me this morning.
254
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Sunday, August \\th.
Housman was coming down yesterday
but telegraphed to say he was detained.
Mrs Housman went to Mass. In the
afternoon we received a visit from an
American who has come here in a yacht
and met Cunninghame and myself in the
town this morning. His name is Harold
C. Jefferson. When I was introduced to
him he said he did not quite catch my
name. I said my name was " Mellor " ;
he said: "Lord or Mister?" Cunning-
hame told him where he was staying
and he said he would call — he knew the
Housmans in America. He asked us all
to go on board his yacht to-morrow. Mrs
Housman, Cunninghame and myself ac-
cepted. Lady Jarvis said she would stop
with A. who is not up to it.
Monday, August T-Ztk.
We had luncheon on board Mr Jeffer-
son's yacht, a large steam vessel. It has
on board a piano and an organ, both of
which are played by electricity, which is
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Passing By
in some respects satisfactory, but the tempo
of the M eistersinger Overture which was
performed for us was accelerated out of
all recognition.
Tuesday, August idth.
A Miss Simpson called in the afternoon
to ask Mrs Housman to help with some
local charity ; she lives at the Hotel. She
said she found it very inconvenient not
being able to go to Church. We wondered
what prevented her doing so, but she soon
gave us the reason herself She said that
the local clergyman was so low — no east-
ward position.
A. is much better and went for a walk
with Lady Jarvis.
Wednesday, August 17/^.
Housman has written to say that he
will not be able to come down until late in
September. Carrington-Smith is unwell
and he is overwhelmed with business.
He, Housman, may have to meet a man
in Paris.
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Thursday, August iS/A.
A rainy day. Cunninghame and I went
out in spite of the rain.
Friday, August i^th.
Cunninghame played golf with General
York.
Saturday, August loth.
Lady Jarvis, Mrs Housman and myself
went for a drive. A. played golf with
Cunninghame. I began John Inglesant
last night. Mrs Housman has never read
it. After dinner we had some music. Mrs
Housman played Schubert's Prometheus
and hummed the tune. She says it is a
man's song.
Sunday, August 21st.
A. says he is going to have his yacht
sent up here — he will be able to sail back
in her. Mrs Housman went to Mass.
In the afternoon we sat in the garden and
read out aloud Cashel Byron's Profession,
a novel by Bernard Shaw. A. enjoyed it
immensely.
R 257
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Monday, August 22nd.
We drove to the Lizard in a motor and
had luncheon at the Hotel. A. misses his
yacht very much but he has sent for her.
After dinner we played Clumps.
Tuesday, Ategus/ lyd.
Cunninghame was going to-morrow but
he is staying till Saturday. Mrs Housman
went to Newquay to the convent for the
day. Lady Jarvis took A. for a drive.
Wednesday, August i\th.
This morning A., Cunninghame and
myself walked down to the town. We
met a friend of Cunninghame's called
Randall, who is yachting. He has just
come from France.
258
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Grey Farm, Carbis Bay,
Thursday, August 25/A.
Dearest Elsie,
I am stopping here till
Saturday, then Worsel, then Edith's.
You had better write to Edith's. Yester-
day morning we were in the town, George,
Godfrey and I, and we met Jimmy
Randall, who has come here in the Gold-
berg's yacht. They had been to St Malo
and other places in France. When we
said we were staying with the Housmans,
Randall said there was not much chance
of our seeing Housman for some time as
he was having the time of his life with
Mrs Fairburn at a little place near
Deauville.
This came as a revelation to George,
who had no idea of Housman 's adventures.
He has scarcely spoken since. We are
having a very happy time and I am
259
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miserable at having to go away. George
is quite well. He has sent for his yacht,
but he is not staying on very long as he
has got to go to one or two places before
he goes back to London. The weather has
been divine. Godfrey is quite cheerful.
I shan't write again till I get to Edith's.
I shan't stop more than a night at Worsel
on the way.
Edith is clamouring for me to come.
The Caryls are staying there.
Yrs.
G.
260
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Thursday, August i^tk.
I went out for a walk with Cunning-
hame ; he asked me whether I had liked
John Inglesant. I said I had it read with
interest but it gave me the creeps ; it had
the chill of a dream world ; I preferred
the character of Eustace Inglesant to that
of his brother John. Cunninghame said
he had read it five times ; that John
Inglesant, Flaubert's Trois Contes and
Anthony Hope's The King's Mirror were
his three favourite books. I had read
neither of the others. Mrs Housman
and A. went for a walk in the afternoon.
After dinner Lady Jarvis read out a story
by Stevenson.
Friday, August z6th.
Mrs Housman went to the town in the
afternoon. A. and Cunninghame played
golf. I went for a walk with Lady Jarvis.
She talked about Mrs Housman. She
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said it was wonderful what comfort she
(Mrs H.) found in her religion. As far
as she herself was concerned, she had
never ceased to appreciate the luxury of
not going to church on Sunday, so much
had she disliked being made to go to
church before she was grown up. I said
Mrs Housman had told me that Roman
Catholic children enjoyed going to church.
She said : " Yes, and their grown-up
people too. Clare will probably go to
church this afternoon. If I was a Catholic
I could understand it." She said it was
the only religion she could understand.
" Unhappily to be a Catholic," she said,
" one must believe. I am not talking of
the ritual and the discipline — I mean
one must believe, have faith in the super-
natural, and I have none." She said
that she thought religion was an instinct.
Her religion consisted in trying not to
hurt other people's feelings. That was
difficult enough. She said she had once
come across this phrase in a French book :
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" Aimez-vous les uns les autres, c'est
beaucoup dire supportez-vous les uns les
autres, c'est ddja assez difficile." Some
people, she said, arrived at religion by dis-
believing in disbelief. She didn't believe
in dogmatic disbelief\i\x\. that didn't lead her
to anything positive. She said she was glad
for Mrs Housman that she had her religion.
I asked her if she thought Mrs Housman
was very unhappy. She said : " Yes ; but
there comes a moment in unhappiness
when people realise that they must either
live, or die. Clare passed that moment
a long time ago." People often made
God in their own image. Mrs Housman
had a beautiful character. She, Lady
Jarvis, had no stuff in her to project a
deity with. She thought that religion
seldom affected conduct. She thought
Mrs Housman would have been just the
same if she had been brought up as a free-
thinker or a Presbyterian. She thought
her marriage and her whole life had been
a gigantic mistake. She ought, she said,
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to have been a professional singer. She
was an artist by nature. I said I was
struck by Mrs Housman's strong common-
sense and her tact in dealing with people.
" That would have made her all the greater
as an artist," Lady Jarvis said. " In all
arts you want to be good at other things
besides that art. Riding needs mind."
She said it was no good wishing to be
otherwise but she thought it was very
tragic. She said: "If I believed there
was another life, this sort of thing wouldn't
matter, but as I don't it matters very
much." I said it struck me the other way
round. If one didn't believe in a future
life I didn't see that anything could
matter very much. I asked her if she
positively believed there wasn't another
life. She said : " I don't know. I only
know I don't believe in a future life." I
asked her if that wasn't faith. She said
very possibly, but she at any rate hadn't
the fervent faith in no-God that some
atheists had. In any case she was not
364
Passing By
intolerant about it. I asked her if it had
not often struck her that agnostics and
free-thinkers were still more intolerant
than religious people and that they had
least business to be. She said that was
exactly what she had meant. The re-
ligion of other people irritated them ; they
wanted people to share their particular
form of unbelief. She never did that.
She thought dogmatic disbelief intolerable.
She had the greatest respect for Catholics
and would give anything to be able to be
one. Mrs Housman never spoke about
her religion. We talked about reading.
I said I always read the newspapers or
rather The Times every day. I had done
so for fifteen years. She said she never
did except in the train but she knew the
news as well as I did. We talked about
what is good reading for the train and
about journeys. I told her of a journey I
had once taken in France in a third-class
carriage. She said it was lucky one forgot
physical discomfort at once unlike mental
265
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discomfort. She said something about
the appalling unnaturalness of people when
they had to deal with death, and then of
the misery in seeing other people suffer,
of the hardness of some people, and of
a book she had just been reading, called
Katzensteg, by Sudermann, and then of
Germans, and so. to music, of Housman's
great undeveloped musical talent, of Jews,
how favourable the mixture of Jewish and
German blood was to music. I said some-
thing about Jews being rarely men of
creation or action. She said they were just
as persistent in getting what they wanted
as men of action, so she supposed that it
came to the same. Disraeli was a man of
action, she supposed, and all the great
socialists, Marx and Lassalle, they got
what they wanted. " Un de nous a voulu
etre Dieu et il I'a et^," she said a Jewish
financier had once said. This led her to
Heine. He was her favourite writer,
both in prose and verse. Had I ever
read his prose ? I ought to read Geschichte
266
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der Religion und Philosophie in Deutsch-
land. It was the most brilliant book of
criticism she knew. It was the Jews who
had invented all great religions, and
socialism was the invention of the Jews.
Some people said the Russian revolution
was Jewish in idea and leadership and
might very likely lead to a new political
creed. She said she hated anti-Semitism.
This led us to Christianity. Christianity
to her meant Catholicism. She could not
understand any other form of it. She
thought there was nothing in the world
more silly than attempts to make a religion
of Christianity without the Church — there
could only be one Church. " But," I said,
"you disbelieve in it." She said: "Yes;
but the only thing that could tempt me
to believe in it is the continued existence
of the Catholic Church." She said : " It's
there ; it's a fact, whether one believes in
its divine origin, as Clare does, or whether
one doesn't, as I don't. It must either all
hang together or not exist. You can't
267
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take a part of it and make a satisfactory
and reasonable religion." Not only that,
nothing- seemed to her more foolish than
the attempts to make a religion of
Christianity without the Divine element,
in which Christ was only a very good
man. I said if she did not believe in the
divinity of Christ the story could be no-
thing more to her than a fable. She said :
"If one only regards it as a fable, as I
suppose I do — but again I have no
dogmatic disbelief in it — it is still the most
beautiful, impressive, wonderful and tragic
story ever invented and it seems to me to
lose its whole point if Christ was only
a man with hypnotic powers and a head
turned by ambition or illusion." She
quoted a Frenchman, who had said that
he adored Jesus Christ as his Lord and
God, but " s'il n'est qu'un homme je
pr^fere Hannibal." Napoleon too had
said that he knew men and Jesus Christ
was not a man. Regarded as a story the
whole point and beauty of the Gospel were
268
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lost in all modern versions, rewritings, ex-
planations and interpretations, and none
of them held together. She said it was as
if one rewrote the fairy tales and made
the fairies not fairies but only clever con-
jurers. By this time we had reached home.
Saturday, August 2'jth.
Cunninghame went away early this
morning. Mrs Housman told me that
she was not going to spend the winter in
London ; she was going to Florence, and
it was possible she might be away for a
whole year. A. went out this afternoon
with Lady Jarvis.
Sunday, August ■2%tk.
Mrs York called in the afternoon. Mrs
Housman was out with A. Lady Jarvis
and myself entertained her. She was
most affable and not at all stiff, as she
was last year. She said she had known
several of A.'s relations in India. As she
went away she said to Lady Jarvis, in the
hall : " You never told me Mrs Housman
269
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was an American — ^that makes all the
difference."
Monday, August 2qth.
We all went to the Land's End for the
day.
Tuesday, August jpth.
A.'s yacht has arrived. We had
luncheon on board and went for a short
sail in the afternoon ; the sea was reason-
ably smooth, but Lady Jarvis said that
the sea under any conditions gave her
a headache.
Wednesday, August T,isf.
Mrs Housman and A. went out for a
sail in the morning and came back for tea.
A. says he will have to go away in a day
or two. After dinner Mrs Housman read
out Burnand's Happy Thoughts.
Thursday, September ist.
A rainy day. Mrs Housman called on
Mrs York and has asked her and the
General to luncheon next Sunday. I
went out for a walk in the rain by myself
270
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and got very wet. Mrs Housman said
that the Indian servant stood motionless
behind Mrs York's chair during the whole
of the visit. This embarrassed her. She felt
inclined to draw him into the conversation.
Friday, September 2ftd.
Mrs Housman went to the convent by
herself. Lady Jarvis and A. went out for
a walk and I stayed at home. It is quite
fine again. A. leaves next Monday.
Saturday, September ^rd.
A. wanted to go out sailing but Mrs
Housman thought it was too windy. We
all went for a drive instead.
Sunday, September 4tk.
General York and Mrs York came to
luncheon. The General was a little
nervous, but Mrs York was affable and
friendly. She said she had never got
used to the English climate. Lady Jarvis
asked Mrs York if she had been to church.
Mrs York said they had a church quite
271
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close to their house in the village but she
always drove to our village church,
although it was three miles off. She
could not go to their church as she did
not approve of the clergyman's ritualistic
practices. He used white vestments at
Easter, changed the order of the service,
and allowed a picture in church. All that,
of course, made it impossible. They went
away soon after luncheon. I went for
a walk with Lady Jarvis. After dinner
A. asked Mrs Housman to sing, but she
said she would rather read. She read
Happy Thoughts aloud.
Monday, September ^ih.
A. left in his yacht. He said he would
be back in London by the first of October.
He is stopping at Plymouth on the way.
Tuesday, September 6th.
Mrs Housman asked me if I had finished
Les Miserables. I said I had not gone on
with it. She read aloud from it in the
afternoon.
272
Passing B t/
Wednesday, September "jtk.
I leave to-morrow to stay with Aunt
Ruth. I have to be in London on the
19th. Lady Jarvis went to the village,
we stayed in the garden. After dinner,
Mrs Housman sang some Schubert. She
leaves Cornwall at the end of the month
and then goes to Florence, where she stays
till Easter or perhaps longer.
Monday, October ^rd. London, Gray's Inn.
Cunninghame and A. both came back
to-day. Cunninghame asked me to dine
with him to-morrow.
Tuesday, October \th.
Dined with Cunninghame alone in his
flat. He said that he knew I had some
R.C. friends, perhaps I knew a priest. I
said the only priest I had ever spoken to
was Father Stanway at Carbis Bay. He
said he wanted to consult a priest about
certain rules in the R.C. Church. He
wanted to know under what conditions a
marriage could be annulled. A friend of
s 273
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his wanted a married woman to get her
marriage annulled as her husband was
living with someone else. He wanted to
know whether the marriage could be
annulled. I said I knew who he was
talking about. He said he had meant me
to know. He had promised A. to find
out from a priest. A. had been told by
her that it was out of the question to get
the marriage annulled. It had been a
marriage entered into by her own free will
and performed with every necessary con-
dition of validity. Of course she was very
young when she was married and didn't
know what she was doing, but that had
nothing to do with it. Her aunt and the
nuns in the convent where she had been
brought up had thought it was an excellent
marriage, as he was well off and a Catholic.
Cunninghame begged me to go and see
a priest. I said I did not know how this
was done. I suggested his asking his
cousin, Mrs Caryl. He said she was in
Paris and that would be no use, it would
274
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not satisfy A. I said I would think about
it.
Wednesday, October ^tk.
I asked Tuke where and how one could
find a priest who would be able to tell one
the rules of the Church with regard to
marriage. Tuke said any of the Fathers
at Farm Street or the Oratory. In the
afternoon I went to the Oratory, sent in
my Cfird and asked to see a priest. I
sat in a little waiting-room downstairs.
Presently a tall man came in with very
bright eyes and a face with nothing but
character left in it. I told him I had come
for a friend. It was a case of divorce, or
rather of annulment. I knew his Church
did not tolerate divorce. I was, myself,
not a CathoHc. It was the case of a lady,
a Catholic, who had married a Catholic.
The husband had always been unfaithful
and was now almost openly living with
someone else. Could the marriage be
annulled ? The priest asked whether she
desired the marriage to be annulled. I
275
Passing B \
told him she had said it was impossible.
He asked whether the marriage had been
performed under all conditions of validity.
I said I did not myself know what these
conditions were, but that she had expressly
said that the marriage had been performed
with her own free will, with every necessary
condition of validity. I knew she thought
it was out of the question to think of the
marriage being annulled, but there was
someone who was most devoted to her
and wanted to marry her, and he was not
satisfied with her saying it was impossible.
He wanted the decision confirmed by
a priest and that was why I had come.
The priest said he was afraid from what
1 had told him that it was no use thinking
of annulment. It was clear from what I
had said she knew quite well the conditions
that make it possible to apply for the
annulment of a marriage. He said he
was sure it was a hard case. If I liked
he would lend me a book which went into
the matter in detail. I said I would not
276
Passing By
trouble him. It would be enough that I
had seen him and heard this from him.
I then went away. I went straight back
to the office and told C. the result of my
visit. He was most grateful to me for
having done this. He said he was dining
with A. to-night. He said A. was in a
terrible state.
Thursday, October dth.
Cunninghame told me that he had dined
with A. and given him the information I
had procured for him. He said A. was
wretched. Mrs Housman arrives in
London on Saturday. She is only staying
till Monday ; she then goes to Florence.
Friday, October ith.
Cunninghame told me that Housman
has come back to London. They have
got their house back. Mrs Fairburn is in
London also.
Saturday, October ?>th.
A. has gone down to Littlehampton.
277
Passing By
Sunday, October ^(h.
I went to see Mrs Housman in the
afternoon — she was in. She leaves for
Florence to-morrow. She told me she
was going to stay there a whole year.
She asked after A. and was pleased to
hear he was still in g-ood health. Miss
Housman came in later after we had
finished tea.
278
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Sunday, October ^th.
Dearest Elsie,
Thank you for your long
letter. I am most worried about George.
Mrs Housman goes to Florence to-morrow
and is not coming back for a whole year.
George has told me about the whole
thing. She knows all about Housman
and has always known. George has im-
plored her to divorce Housman and to
marry him. She can't divorce, as you
know better than I do, and she told
George it was not a marriage that could
be annulled. However, this didn't satisfy
him. He insisted on getting the opinion
of a priest. I thought of writing to you,
but there wasn't time, and then I didn't
know whether it was the same in France
or not. I got the opinion of a priest, who
said there wasn't the slightest chance of
279
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getting the marriage annulled. I told
George this and he won't believe it, even
now. He keeps on saying that we ought
to go to Rome, but I don't suppose that
would be of the slightest use either, would
it ? In the meantime he is perfectly
wretched. Mrs Housman didn't see him
after Cornwall. George won't see anyone,
or go anywhere now. He is at this
moment down at Littlehampton by him-
self. If you can think of anything one
could do, let me know at once, but I know
there is nothing to be done. If the
marriage could be annulled I think she
would marry him to-morrow. I can't
write about anything else, because I can't
think about anything else.
Yrs.
G.
280
From the Diary of Godfrey Me I lor
Monday, October xith.
Heard from Mrs Housman from
Florence. She says the weather is
beautiful and she is having a very
peaceful time.
Monday, November 1th.
Heard from Mrs Housman. She has
been to Rome, where she stayed a fort-
night.
Wednesday, November i)th.
I met Housman in the street this morn-
ing. He said he had given up the house
near Staines. It was dismal in winter
and not very pleasant in summer. He
had taken a small house in the north of
London, not far from Hendon. He could
come up from there every day and the air
was very good. I was not to say a word
about this to Mrs Housman, as it was
a surprise. He said he was going to
Florence for Christmas if he could. He
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P as s i ng By
said I must come down one Saturday and
stay with him.
Saturday, November iqtk.
Staying with Riley at Shelborough.
Monday, December izth.
Heard from Mrs Housman. She is
going to spend Christmas at Ravenna
with the Albertis. Housman has written
to me saying he will not be able to get to
Florence at Christmas and asking me to
spend it with him at his house near
Hendon. I have told him that I was
staying with Aunt Ruth for Christmas.
282
Letters from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Monday, October i^th.
Dearest Elsie,
Thank you for your letter.
I quite understand all you say and I was
afraid it must be so, but thank you for
taking all that trouble. George is just the
same. He sees nobody except Godfrey
and me. I have heard from Mrs Hous-
man twice and I have written to her
several times and given her news of
George. I haven't set eyes on Housman
nor heard either from him or of him.
Yrs.
G.
London,
Monday, October ^ist.
Dearest Elsie,
I saw Jimmy Randall
yesterday. He tells me that Housman
is in London but has taken a house near
Hendon and comes up every day. He
28,1
Passing By
is just, as infatuated as ever with Mrs
Fairburn and has given her some handsome
jewels.
I heard from Mrs Housman on Satur-
day. I am afraid she is quite miserable.
George won't even go to stay with his
sister. He dines with me sometimes.
Yrs.
G.
London,
November \\th.
Dearest Elsie,
Lady Jarvis is bacl<; from
Ireland. I went down to Rosedale on
Saturday. There were a few people
there, but I managed to have two loner
and good talks with her. She is of course
fearfully worried. She hears from Mrs
Housman constantly, she never mentions
G. Lady Jarvis thinks of going out
there, only, apparently, Mrs Housman
will not be at Florence for Christmas.
She tried to get George to come to Rose-
dale, but he wouldn't.
•284
P as s I tig By
I have seen Housman for a moment at
the play. He said I must see his house
at Hendon. He said he had meant it as
a surprise for Mrs H., but he had been
obliged to tell her. He says he has
bought a lot of new pictures and that the
house is very moderne in arrangement.
I can see it. He wanted me to go there
next Saturday. I said I couldn't.
Yours,
G.
London,
Tuesday, November 2<)th.
Dearest Elsie,
I am sorry to have been
so bad about writing, but we have been
having rather a busy time, which has
been a good thing for George. I am
going to stay with Lady Jarvis for Christ-
mas. She asked George and he is going
too. There is no party. He seems a
little better, but he isn't really better, and
he talks of giving up his job altogether
and going out to Africa again. Will you
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Passing By
choose me a small Christmas present for
Lady Jarvis, something that looks nice in
the box or case.
Yrs.
G.
London,
Monday, December \2th.
Dearest Elsie,
Housman asked me so
often to go down to Hendon that I was
obliged to go last Saturday. The house
is decorated entirely in the AH Nouveau
style. There is a small spiral staircase
made of metal in the drawing-room that
goes nowhere. It is just a serpentine
ornament. The house is the last word of
hideosity, but the pictures are rather good.
He gets good advice for these and never
buys anything that, he thinks won't go
up. It was a bachelor party, Randall,
Carrington-Smith and myself. We played
golf all the day, and Bridge all the
evening.
He said Mrs Housman was enjoying
286
Passing By
Florence very much and that we must all
go out there for Easter again.
I heard from her three days ago. She
said very little, and asked after George.
He never hears from her. He dines with
me often.
Yrs.
G.
ROSEDALE,
Saturday, December 2,1st.
Dearest Elsie,
We have had rather a sad
Christmas, only George and myself here,
but Lady Jarvis has been too kind for
words, and quite splendid with George.
She has heard regularlyfrom Mrs Housman
and she thinks she will go out to Florence
in January if she can.
Godfrey is staying with his uncle.
Lady Jarvis says that Miss Sarah Hous-
man makes terrible scenes about Mrs
Fairburn, so much so that Sarah and he
are no longer on speaking terms. I go
287
Passing B ij
back to London just after the New Year,
so does George. The Christmas present
was a great success. Lady Jarvis gave
me a lovely table for my flat.
Yrs.
G.
288
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Monday, January 2 nd, i g 1 1 .
Received a small Dante bound in white
vellum from Mrs Housman. It had been
delayed in the post.
Tuesday, Januarv yd-
Cunninghame came to the office to-day.
A. also.
Tuesday, April 12th.
Riley is spending Easter in London. He
wishes to attend the Holy Week services.
He is staying with me.
Wednesday, April 13//%.
Sat up with Riley, talking. I told him
about Hope having said that he considered
that to become an R.C. was to sin against
the light. Riley said that Hope might
very hkely end by committing suicide, as
views such as he held led to despair. He
said : " If the Catholic religion is like what
Hope and you think it to be, It must be
T 289
Passing By
inconceivable that anyone whose character
and whose intelHgence you respect could
belong to such a Church, but, granting
you do, does it not occur to you that it is
just possible the Catholic religion may be
unlike what you think it is, may indeed
be something quite different ? "
I said that I did not at all share Hope's
views. Indeed I did not know what they
were. I said that I agreed with him that
when one got to know R.C.'s one found
they were quite different from what they
were supposed to be, and I was quite
ready to believe this applied to their
beliefs also.
I said something about the complication
of the Catholic system, which was difficult
to reconcile with the simplicity of the
early Church. He said the services of
the early Church were longer and more
complicated than they were now. The
services of the Eastern Church were more
complicated than those of the Western
Church, and to this clay in the Coptic
290
P a s s in i! B
Church it took eight hours to say Mass.
The Church was complicated when de-
scribed, but simple when experienced.
Saturday, April \6th.
Went with Riley to the ceremony of
the Blessing of the Font at Westminster
Cathedral. Riley said he was sorry for
people who had to go to Maeterlinck for
symbolism.
Received a postcard from Florence.
Houspian did not go out after all.
Monday, May ist.
Cunninghame told us that Housman is
laid up with pneumonia.
Thursday, May i,th.
Housman is worse, and Mrs Housman
has been telegraphed for. He is laid up
at Hendon. They don't think he will
recover.
Friday, May ^th.
Mrs Housman arrived last night,
Housman is about the same.
291
Passing By
Monday, May ith.
Had luncheon with Lady Jarvis yester-
day. She says that Housman was a shade
better yesterday. He may recover, but it
is thought very doubtful. Mrs Housman
has been up day and night nursing him.
Wednesday, May lo th.
Housman has taken a turn for the
better, but he is not yet out of danger.
Saturday, May i^th.
The doctors say Housman is out of
danger.
Monday, May \^ih.
Cunninghame says Housman will re-
cover. He has been very bad indeed.
The doctors say that it is entirely due
to Mrs Housman's nursing that he has
pulled through.
Saturday, May 20th.
Went to see Mrs Housman at Hendon.
I was allowed to see Housman for a few
minutes. He likes visitors. Mrs Hous-
man looked tired. Cunninghame says
292
Passing By
that Housman has a weak heart. That
was the danger.
Saturday, June loth.
The Housmans have gone to Brighton
for a fortnight.
293
Letters from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, May 22nd.
Dearest Elsie,
I am delighted to hear
you and Jack are coming to London so
soon, but very sad of course that you
won't be going back to Paris. But I
believe Copenhagen is a delightful post,
and they say it always leads to something.
Perhaps you will let me come and stay
with you in the summer?
Yrs.
G.
Saturday, June loth.
Dearest Elsie,
Your letter made me laugh
a great deal. I expect you will get to
like the place. I am writing this from
Rosedale, where I am in the middle of
a large musical and artistic party, one
294
Passing By
painter, two novelists, and two pianists.
They all hate each other like poison, and
it is pain to all the others when one of
them performs. But the rest of us are
enjoying it immensely, and Lady Jarvis
is being splendid. The Housmans have
gone to Brighton for a fortnight. Bert
is quite well again, but Mrs Housman
looks fearfully ill.
Write to me again soon.
Yrs.
G.
Monday, June idth.
Dearest Elsie,
I have just come back
from Oakley, the Housmans' place, near
Hendon. He has quite recovered, and
everything was going on there just as
usual. Jimmy Randall was there, and
Mrs Fairburn. Housman said nothing
about the summer, but Mrs Housman told
me she was not going to Cornwall this
year. I asked her if she was going to
295
Passing By
stay all the summer at Oakley, the Hendon
house. She said that Housman had hired
a yacht for the summer and asked several
people. She said she couldn't bear steam
yachting with a large party, and she has
taken a small house on the west coast of
Ireland, with Lady Jarvis. They would
be there quite alone ; she was going there
quite soon: "Albert would probably go
to France."
She told me Housman had wanted to
take the house in Cornwall and ask us all
again, but that she had told him this was
impossible.
George has seen her once or twice,
and he is of course happier, but things
are where they were. She won't think of
divorcing.
I shall start for Copenhagen at the end
of July.
Yrs.
G.
296
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Tuesday, June 2"] tk. London.
Housman has asked me to go to Oakley
next Saturday. He has asked A. also.
Wednesday, June zZth. London.
Dined with A. and his sister. A. said
he would be unable to go to Oakley next
week. He had some people staying with
him.
Thursday, June 7.<)th. London.
Dined with Aunt Ruth. Apparently
Gertrude is still annoyed at the Caryls
having got Copenhagen. She complains
of this weekly.
Friday, June 2flth. London.
Solway is staying the night with me,
his concert is to-morrow afternoon.
Saturday, July \st. London.
Went with Mrs Housman to Solway's
concert in the afternoon, and she drove
me down to Hendon afterwards in her
297
Passing By
motor. Mrs Housman is going to spend
the summer in Ireland.
Sunday, July ind. Oakley {near Hendon).
Mrs Fairburn and Carringrton- Smith
are staying here. Mrs Housman leaves
to-morrow for Ireland.
29S
Passing By
Saturday, October 2.%th. London, Gray's Inn.
Mrs Housman returns from Ireland
to-day. She spends Sunday in London,
and goes to Oakley, near Hendon, on
Wednesday. I have not heard one
word from Mrs Housman since her long
absence in Ireland.
Sunday, October -z^th.
Went to see Mrs Housman in the after-
noon. Ireland has done her a great deal
of good, and she looks quite refreshed and
rested.
She asked after A. I told her he was
due to arrive from Scotland to-morrow,
and that we expected him at the office.
She asked me if I was going to stay with
Lady Jarvis next Saturday. She said we
would meet there. She said nothing about
her plans for the future.
Monday, October Tfith.
A. has arrived from Scotland, and
Cunninghame from Copenhagen, where he
299
Passing By
has been staying for the last three months
with his cousin. I called on Lady Jarvis.
She told me she thought Mrs Housman
would not remain long in England. She
might go to Italy again.
Tuesday, October 2,1st.
A. is going to Rosedale on Saturday.
Wednesday, November ist.
Dined with A. and Cunninghame.
We went to a music hall after dinner.
Thursday, Novejnber ind.
Cunninghame and I went to Aunt
Ruth's after dinner. When Cunninghame
said he had been at Copenhagen, Aunt
Ruth said that she knew, of course, Caryl
was a brilliant diplomatist, but that
Edmund Anstruther ought to have had
the post. Uncle Arthur said: "What,
Edmund? Copenhagen? He would have
got us into war with the Danes."
300
Passing By
Friday, November ^rd.
Dined alone with A. He aslced after
Mrs Housman's health.
Saturday, November i^th. Rosedale.
A.. Cunninghame, myself, and Mrs
Vaughan are here. The Housmans were
unable to come at the last moment.
Monday, November dth.
Housman asked me to go to Oakley on
Saturday, November 25th. Mrs Housman
has gone to Folkestone for a fortnight to
stay with Miss Housman. Cunninghame
says that Housman and his sister have
quarrelled, and that she no longer goes to
the house.
Saturday, November ^'^th. Oakley.
Lady Jarvis, A. and Carrington-Smith
are staying here. Cunninghame comes
down to-morrow for the day. Housman
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Passing By
was obliged to go to Paris on urgent
business for a few days.
Sunday, November 26th.
Cunninghame and Carrington-Smith
played golf. I went for a walk with Lady
Jarvis.
Mt'iddY, November 2'jth.
Dined with A. and went to the play, a
farce. A. enjoyed it immensely. I have
written to Aunt Ruth to tell her I shall
not be able to go there this year. I shall
remain in London, as Riley wishes to
spend Christmas with me.
Tuesday, November zZth.
Dined with Lady Jarvis. Mrs Hous-
man has gone back to Folkestone. She
stays there till Christmas, then she returns
to London.
A. is going abroad for Christmas.
302
Passing By
Wednesday, December loth.
A. goes to Paris to-morrow night.
Cunninghame is going to spend Christmas
with the Housmans at Oakley.
303
Letter from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
Halkin Street,
Friday, December 22nd.
Dearest Elsie,
As you see, I write from
London. All my plans have been upset
by an unexpected catastrophe. I will try
and begin at the beginning and tell you
everything in order as clearly as possible,
but the fact is I am so bewildered by every-
thing that has happened that I find it
difficult to think clearly and to write at all.
I think I told you in my last letter that
Housman asked me to spend Christmas
with them at Oakley. I was to go down
yesterday, Thursday, and George was
going to Paris by the night train. I think
I told you, too, that ever since we stayed
at Oakley in November, George has been
a changed man and in the highest spirits.
On Thursday we had luncheon together.
I thought it rather odd that he should be
304
Passing By
going to Paris, but he said he was tired
of England and felt that he must have a
change. I wondered what this meant. I
could have imagined his wanting to go
away if he had been like he was before,
that is to say miserable, but now that he
seemed to be enjoying life it was rather
extraordinary. I said I was going to
Oakley. He said nothing, and talked
about his journey. After luncheon he
went to the office to give Mellor some final
instructions. He said he might be away
for some time. I left him there at about
half-past three. I asked him why he was
going by the night train, and he said he
hated a day in the train and always slept
well in the train at night. I said good-
bye and went down to Oakley in a taxi.
Housman had not arrived, and the butler
(who has taken the place of the nice
parlour-maid there used to be at Campden
Hill) told me that Mrs Housman had gone
up to London. Her maid thought she
was staying the night at Garland's Hotel,
u 305
Pass ing By
but he, the butler, knew nothing of her
arrangements. This astonished me, but
I supposed there were no servants at
Campden Hill. At a quarter to five
Housman arrived in a motor with
Carrington- Smith. He looked more yellow
than usual. I met him in the hall and
while we were talking the butler gave him
a letter which he said Mrs Housman had
left for him. He said we would have
tea at once in the drawing-room. Then
he said to Carrington-Smith : "I just
want to show you that thing," and to me :
"We will be with you in one minute."
He took Carrington-Smith into his study
and I went into the drawing-room. Tea
was brought in. 1 again tried the butler
and asked him whether Mrs Housman
was coming back to-morrow morning.
He said that she had left no instructions,
but Mr Housman was probably aware of
her intentions. He went out and almost
directly I heard someone shouting and
bells ringing, violently. Carrington-Smith
io6
P a s s i ng By
was calling me. I ran out and met him
in the hall ; he said Housman had had
a stroke, he thought it was fatal.
It was like a thing on the stage. A
breathless telephone to the doctor. The
motor sent to fetch him. Servants scurry-
ing with blanched faces. Housman lying
on the sofa in the study, his collar undone,
his face ghastly.
Carrington-Smith said: "We must
telephone to Campden Hill for Mrs
Housman."
I said : " She isn't there." Then told
him about Garland's Hotel. He seemed
dumbfounded, sent for the butler, who
confirmed this, and then got on to the
Hotel. Mrs Housman was in. He
spoke to her and told her Housman was
dangerously ill and she must come at
once. He said he would get on to Miss
Housman and tell her to bring Mrs Hous-
man down in her motor. This was
arranged and he told Miss Housman the
whole facts. In the meantime the doctor
307
P a using By
arrived — an Australian. He examined
Housman and said it was heart failure and
that he had always feared this. They had
known he had a weak heart after his last
illness. It might have happened any day.
Then Carrington- Smith told me how
it had happened. When they went into
the study Housman had sat down at his
writing-table and read a letter through
twice quite slowly, torn it up and thrown
it into the fire. He had then said : " We
will go," and at that moment fallen back
and collapsed on the sofa.
He told me that Housman had had a
terrific row with Mrs Fairburn yesterday
and had talked of nothing else on the way
down. Probably the letter was from her,
he said. I said : " Yes, very likely " ; but
as a matter of fact 1 knew it was from
Mrs Housman. He had not noticed that,
or if he had he was lying on purpose.
Mrs Housman and Miss Hoiisman
arrived about six. Mrs Housman almost
frighteniu^lv calm.
308
'Passing B ij
She wanted to know every detail. She
had a talk with Carrington-Smith alone
and then I saw her for a moment before
going away. She asked me if I had seen
Housman before he died. Then she made
all the arrangements herself. I went
back to London by train.
I don't know what to think. Why did
she go to London ? Why did she stay
at Garland's Hotel? The Campden Hill
house isn't shut up. Miss Housman
talked about going there. Did the letter
which she left for Housman play a part
in the tragedy ?
I sent George a telegram. Possibly
you may see him.
Yours,
G.
309
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Friday, December 22nd,
I was rung up last night by Cunning-
hame, who had returned to London
unexpectedly. He had bad news to tell
me. A tragedy had occurred at Oakley
and Housman had died suddenly of a
heart attack. Mrs Housman was informed
at once and reached Oakley an hour after
the tragedy occurred.
Cunninghame has informed A. by
telegram.
Not unconnected with this tragic event
a small incident has occurred to me which
leaves me stunned.
I have unwittingly violated A.'s con-
fidence, and as it were looked through a
keyhole into his private affairs. I am
literally appalled by what I have done.
But after reviewing every detail and living
again every moment of yesterday, I do
not see how I could have acted otherwise
310
Passing By
than I did, nor do I see how things could
have happened differently.
These are the facts :
A. arrived at the office at half-past three
on Thursday afternoon with Cunninghame.
Cunninghame left him.
A. remained in his room until five
o'clock, writing letters.
At five he sent for me and told me he
was leaving for Paris that night by the
night train. Tuke, he said, had gone on
his holiday. He asked me if I was going
away. I said I should be in London
during all the Christmas holidays, as I
had a friend staying with me. He said
he would most probably be away for some
time, and he would be obliged if I could
look in at the office every now and then.
He had told the clerks to forward letters,
but he wanted me to make sure they did
not forward circulars or any other useless
documents to him. I was to open all
telegrams, whether private or not, and
not to forward them unless they were of
3"
Passing By
real importance. " But," he said, "there
won't be any telegrams. Don't forward
me invitations to luncheon or dinner."
This morning I went to the office.
There was a telegram for A. The clerk
gave it to me. I opened it. It had been
sent off originally at five yesterday after-
noon and redirected from Stratton Street.
Its contents were: "Albert dangerously
ill. Fear worst. Cannot come. Clare."
I forwarded it to the Hotel Meurice.
He will know of course that I have read
it. I read it at one glance before I
realised its nature. Then it was too late.
And so unwittingly I am guilty of the
greatest breach of confidence that I could
possibly have committed.
It was a fatality that this telegram
should have missed him. The clerks say
he left the office soon after I did, a little
after five. They say the telegram did not
reach the office till later. They didn't
know where A. was and he had told them
not to forward any telegrams till I had
312
Passing By
seen them. I remember his saying that
he was not returning- to his flat. That he
was dining at a club and going straight
from there to the station, where his servant
would meet him. I am truly appalled by
what I have done, but the more I think
over it, the less I see how it could have
been otherwise.
1 had some conversation with Cunning-
hame on the telephone last night. He
had been talking to Lady Jarvis on the
telephone. She had at once offered to
go to Oakley, but Mrs Housman said she
would rather see no one at present.
Cunninghame went down to Rosedale
at her urgent request this morning. He
did not call at the office on the way.
313
Letters from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
ROSEDALE,
Friday, December iitid.
Dearest Elsie,
I came down here early
this morning. Lady Jarvis heard the
news from Miss Housman last night and
at once offered to go, but Mrs Housman
said she would rather see no one at
present. Carrington-Smith was making
all the arrangements. The funeral is to
be on Tuesday. I told Lady Jarvis about
Mrs Housman being in London. She
said Mrs Housman often went up to
Garland's Hotel. She found it a complete
rest and the house at Campden Hill was
very cold and there was no cook there.
Lady jarvis said it was the most natural
thing in the world. 1 told her about the
letter. She said Mrs Housman had no
doubt written to Housman saying she had
gone to Garland's Hotel and was coming
back. 1 also told her what Carrington-
J14
Passing By
Smith had said about Mrs Fairburn. She
said : " That was it. It was those terrible
scenes which used to shatter him and no
doubt caused his death." Lady Jarvis
says it will be a shock to Mrs Housman
in spite of everything. The fact of
Housman having made her very unhappy,
or rather of her having been very unhappy
as his wife, will make no difference to the
shock. Lately Lady Jarvis says he had
made things very difficult for her. Mrs
Fairburn was always there.
One can't help thinking — well you know,
I needn't explain. 1 wonder what will
happen in the future. 1 have heard
nothing from George yet. There is no
one here. Housman must have left an
enormous fortune. He was very canny
about his investments, and very lucky
too. Randall told me he had almost
doubled his fortune in the last three
years, and he was rich enough to start
with.
Yours, G.
315
Passing By
P.S. — Lady Jarvis' explanation of the
letter does not quite satisfy, but what did
happen ? What does it all mean ?
London,
Monday, January \st.
Dearest Elsie,
I came up to-day for
good. I went to Housman's funeral last
Tuesday. Mrs Housman went down to
Rosedale directly after the funeral. She
is going to Florence next week and means
to stay on there indefinitely. George has
come back. He never wrote and I did
not hear from him till he arrived at the
office this morning. He is just the same
as usual except for being subtly different.
Housman left everything to her.
Yrs. G.
P.S. — I told Godfrey everything that
had happened at Oakley. He said nothing.
He appears incapable of discussing the
matter.
316
From the Diary of Godfrey Me I lor
Monday, January ist, 191 2.
A. arrived last night from Paris. He
came to the office and he thanked me for
what I had done in his absence. " Every-
thing was quite right," he said. He
conveyed to me without saying anything
that I need not distress myself about the
telegram and that he still trusted me.
He did not mention Mrs Housman nor
the death of Housman.
Wednesday, February 2.%th.
I heard to-day from Mrs -Housman.
She tells me she has entered the Convent
of the Presentation and intends to be a
nun. I cannot say the news surprised me,
but to hear of the death in life of anyone
one knows well, is almost worse I think
than to hear of their death.
317
Letter from Guy Cunmnghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
W'edncsday, February i<iih.
Dearest Elsie,
I have just had a short
letter from Lady Jarvis telling me that Mrs
Housman is going to be a nun. I have not
set eyes on her since Housman's funeral,
and have only heard of her, and that not
much, from time to time from Lady Jarvis.
I confess I am completely bewildered,
and I hope you won't be shocked if I tell
you that I' can't help thinking it rather
selfish. Do as I will, I cannot see any
possible reason for her taking such a step.
Mrs Housman seems to me the last person
in the world who ought to be a nun.
Whether it will make her happy or not,
I am afraid there is no doubt that she will
be causing a lot of intense misery. George
is worse than ever. He hasn't in the
least got over it, and he never will, I feel
3i«
Passing By
sure. He knows what has happened, but
he can't even bring himself to talk about
it. I think he must have known of it for
some time. In any case he hasn't for one
moment emerged from the real fog of
gloom and misery that has wrapped him
up ever since Christmas.
What is so extraordinary is that just
before Christmas he was in radiant spirits
after all those months of sadness !
I can't see that it can be right, however
good the motive, to destroy and shatter
someone's life !
His life is destroyed, shattered and
shipwrecked ! We must just face that.
I tried to think that we had always
been wrong and that my first impressions
were right, that she had never really cared
for him. But I know this is not true.
You will forgive me saying that I think
your religion has a terribly hard and cruel
side. Nobody appreciates more than I
do all its good points, and nobody knows
better than I do what a lot of good
319
Passing By
is often done by Catholics. But it is
just this sort of thing that makes one
revolt.
I was reading Boswell last night before
going to bed, and I came across this
sentence : " Madam," Dr Johnson said, to
a nun in a convent, " you are here not
from love of virtue, but from fear of vice."
Even this is not a satisfactory explanation
in Mrs Housman's case. It is obvious
that she had nothing^ to fear from vice.
I can't help thinking she has been the
victim of an inexorable system and of
a training which bends the human mind
into a twisted shape that can never be
altered or put straight.
Frankly, I think it is more than sad,
I think it is positively wicked ; not on
her part, but on the part of those who
have led her to take such a mistaken view
of ordinary human duty. After all, even
if she wants to be a nun, isn't it her duty
to stay in the world? Isn't it a more
difficult duty ? What is one's duty to
320
P as s in o By
one's neighbour ? Forgive me for saying
all this. You know in my case that it
isn't inspired by prejudice.
It is cruel to think that most probably
George will never get over this, and that
she has sacrificed the certain happiness
of two human beings and the chance of
doing any amount of good in the world.
What for? For nothing as far as I can
see that can't be much better done by
people far more fitted to that kind of
vocation. I am too sad to write any
more.
Yrs. G.
321
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Thursday, March ist.
I dined alone with Cunninghame at his
flat last night. He had heard the news
about Mrs Housman. He was greatly
upset about it, and thought it very selfish.
I said I believed the step was not irrevoc-
able, as one had to stay some time in a
convent before taking final vows.
He said : " That is just what I want
to talk about, just what I want to know.
How long must one stay exactly ? "
I said I did not know, but I could find
out. He said I want you to find out all
about it as soon as possible. A., he said,
was in a dreadful state. He had dined
with him last night. He had said very
little ; nothing personal, not a word about
what he felt about it, but he had asked
him, Cunninghame, whether he knew what
the rules were about taking the veil.
C. said he did not believe Mrs Housman
322
P a s s in i< B y
would take an irrevocable decision. He
had told A. he would find out all about it.
I could of course ask Riley, but I don't
know whether he would know.
I decided I would apply to Father
Stanway, the priest I met at Carbis Bay,
for information. 1 wrote to him, saying
I wished to consult him on a matter, and
suggested going down to Cornwall on
Saturday and spending Sunday at Carbis
Bay.
Friday, March ind.
Received a telegram from Father Stan-
way, saying that he will not be in Cornwall
this week-end, but in London, where he
will be staying four or five days ; and
suggesting our meeting on Sunday after-
noon. I sent him a telegram asking him
to luncheon on Sunday.
Sunday, March ^th.
Father Stanway came to luncheon with
me at the Club, and we talked of the
topics of the day. After luncheon I
323
Passing By
suggested a walk in the park. We went
for a walk in Kensington Gardens. I
asked him first for the information about
the nuns. He said, as far as he could say
off-hand, it entailed six months' postulancy,
two years' "Habit and White Veil," three
years' simple vows of profession ; and
then solemn perpetual vows. But he said
he could write to a convent and get it
quite accurate for me. In any case he
knew it was a matter of five years.
1 then said I would like, if he did not
mind, to have his opinion on a case which
I had come across. He said he would be
pleased to listen.
I then told him the whole Housman
story as a skeleton case, not mentioning
na^nes, and calling the people X. and Y.
Very possibly he knew who I was talking
about, almost certainly 1 think, although
he never betrayed this for a moment. I
felt the knowledge, if there were know-
ledge, would be as safe as though given
in the confessional. I told him everything,
324
Passing By
including a detailed account of Housman's
death which Cunninghame had given me.
I referred to Housman as X., to Mrs
Housman as Mrs X. and to A. as Y.
I then asked him if he thought Mrs X.
was justified in taking such a step, and
whether it would not be nobler, a more
unselfish course, to remain in the world
and to make Y. happy.
I asked him whether, in his opinion,
people would be justified in calling
Mrs X.'s step, were it to turn out to be
irrevocable, a selfish act.
And, thirdly, I asked if in the case of
Mrs X. changing her mind she would be
allowed by the Church to marry Y
Father Stanway said if I wished to
understand the question I must try and
turn my mind round, as it were, and start
from the point of view that what the world
considers all-important the Church con-
siders of no importance if it interferes with
what God thinks important. He said I
must start by remembering that Mrs X.'s
325
Passing By
conduct proceeded from that idea — what
was important in the eyes of God : she
believed in God pracUcally and not merely
theoretically. This belief was the cardinal
fact and the compass of her life. He
added that this did not mean the Church
was unsympathetic. No one understood
human nature as well as she did, nobody
met it as she did at every point. That
was why she helped it to rise superior to
its weakness and to do what it saw to be
really best. He said it was no disgrace
to be weak, and vows helped one to do
what might be difficult without them.
Then he said that if Mrs X. felt she
was called to the religious life, this voca-
tion was the result of supernatural Grace ;
that she would not be thinkingf of what
was delightful or convenient to her, but of
what was pleasing and honourable to God.
She was bound to follow the appointment
of God, if she felt certain that was His
appointment, rather than her own desire,
and before anything she desired.
326
Passing By
Here I said the objection made (and I
quoted Cunninghame without mentioning
him) was that her desire might he for the
calm and security of the religious life ; but
might it not be her duty, possibly a more
difficult, a more unselfish and less pleasant
duty, to stay in the world and not to
shatter the happiness of another human
being ?
Father Stanway then said it was very
easy to delude oneself in most things, but
not in following a religious vocation. One
might in not following it. It would be
easy to pretend to oneself one was staying
in the world for someone else's sake.
One's merely earthly happiness was not
a reason for not following a vocation, nor
was anyone else's, because the religious
life belonged not to things temporal but
to things eternal. However, if it were
her duty to remain in the world she would
feel no call to leave the world. It was
impossible for a human being to gauge
the vocation of another human being. A
327
Passing By
vocation was a "categorical imperative"
to the soul, and there was no mistaking
its presence. Mrs X. would know for
certain after she had spent some time in
the Convent, she probably knew already,
whether or no what she felt was a vocation
or not. Nobody else could judge, though
her Director might help her to decide.
He would certainly not allow her to stay
if he felt she had no vocation.
I said : " So, if after she has lived through
her first period, or any period of probation,
she feels uncertain as to her vocation,
there would be no objection to her leaving
the religious life, and marrying Y. ?
Would the Church then allow her to
marry Y., and allow her to go back to the
world, knowing she would in all probability
marry Y. ? "
Father Stanway said: "Of course, and
the Church would allow her to marry Y.
now,"
I said, perhaps a little impatiently :
" Then why doesn't she ? "
328
Passing By
"I think," said Father Stanway, "you
are a musician, Mr Mellor?"
I said music was my one and sole
hobby.
He said he would try and express
himself in terms of harmony.
" Perhaps Mrs X. has a great sense of
harmony herself," he said. "If she mar-
ried Y. that would make a legitimate
harmony certainly. But her very feeling
for the full harmony of life would make it
impossible " (and he said this with startling
emphasis) "for her to use X.'s death as a
means for doing rightly what she had meant
to do wrongly, for her intention to do it
wrongly had in a measure caused his
death. Within the harmony of her
marriage the memory of that discord
would always be present. And perhaps
she is a woman who is able to have a
vision of perfect love and harmony. In
that case she could not put up with an
imperfect one. She is now free to enter
upon a perfect harmony and love, by
329
Passing By
marrying Christ, which I imagine she
always wanted to do, even in the normal
married state, in fact by means of the
normal married state, for it is a Sacrament
and unites the soul to God by Grace.
" But I understand from you that her
marriage was such a travesty of marriage
that she felt she couldn't worship Christ
through that, and so swung across and
decided she couldn't be in relation with
Him at all. Then comes this catastrophe
and the pendulum swings back and stops
up.
"There is nothing selfish about this.
For all we know it was the will of God
that all this should happen (the shipwreck
of her marriage, Y.'s love and present
misery) solely to make her vocation
certain, and as far as Y. is concerned we
don't know the end. Even from the
worldly point of view we don't know
whether his marriage with Mrs X. would
have made for his ultimate happiness or
for hers. His present unhappiness may
330
Passing By
be an essential note in the full and total
harmony of his life. It may be a begin-
ning and not an end. It may lead him
to some eventual happiness, it may be
welding his nature and his life for some
undreamed-of purpose, a purpose which
he may afterwards be led to recognise and
bless 'with tears of recognition.' If Mrs
X. is certain of her vocation, and continues
to be certain of it, you can be sure she is
right, and that whatever the world says it
will be wrong.
" The only way in which peace comes
to the human soul is in accepting the will
of God, 'In la sua volontate e nostra
pace. '
"Mrs X. knows that, and perhaps Y.
is on the road to learning it. I daresay
Mrs X. may have an element of fear of
life too, but it will thin out and float off
and away from her ; her act in choosing
the religious life will not be an escape nor
a flight, but a positive acceptance of the
love of "Christ. She is getting to and at
331
Pass ing By
the mysterious spiritual thing which is
in music, and which is as different from
sounds as sounds are different from printed
notes. It is you musicians who know."
I said that although I did not pretend
to understand the whole thing, and the
whole nature of the motive, I could under-
stand that it could be as he said, and I
thanked him, telling him that I for one
should never cavil at her act nor criticise it,
but always understand that there was some-
thing to understand, although probably it
would always be beyond my understanding.
I felt during all this conversation that
the real problem was not why she had
become a nun, but what terrible thing
had happened inside her mind to make
her take that step at Christmas, and
decide on what seemed to contradict all
her life so far.
1 said something- about religion not
affecting conduct in a crisis. Father
Stanway seemed to read my thoughts.
He said: "After a long stress sometimes
332
Passing By
a tiny accident will suffice to make a nerve
snap suddenly. I should say that in this
case long stress had pushed and pushed a
soul out of its real shape and pattern ; an
unknown factor sufficed to force it into a
coherent but false pattern ; a new shock
sufficed to liberate it wholly and let it fall
back into its original true pattern. That
may account for half of it."
Wednesday, March ith.
I dined alone with Cunninghame last
night, and told him what I had ascertained
respecting the rules for the period of
probation of nuns. He appeared to be
relieved. I warned him that Mrs Hous-
man's step might very well prove to be
irrevocable, as I didn't think she was a
person to change her mind easily. He
said : " That's what I am afraid of They
never do let people go. I feel that once
in a convent they will never let her go.
But it will be a relief to A. to know that
the step is not yet irrevocable."
333
Letters from Guy Cunninghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
IVednesday, Marc A 1th.
Dearest Elsie,
Godfrey dined with me
last night. I feel he thinks that Mrs
Housman's step will be irrevocable,
although he didn't actually say so. He
said he didn't pretend to understand it,
but he was convinced she knew best. I
talked of George's acute misery. He said
it was all very difficult to understand, and
I saw he didn't want to discuss it, so I
didn't say any more. I feel he knows
something that we don't know, but what ?
He told me that he knew on good authority
that going into Convent doesn't mean she
takes the veil* for five years. An R.C.
who knows all about it had told him. I
suppose this is right ? Do ask a priest.
I have seen George once or twice. I
don't talk about it to him. In fact, the
334
Passing By
rules about nuns is the only point that has
been mentioned between us as I see he
simply can't talk about it. He looks ten
years older.
Yours, G.
London,
Monday, March iith.
Dearest Elsie,
Thank you very much for
your letter and for the detailed information.
I told George at once that you had con-
firmed what Godfrey had said, and he was
really relieved. But he doesn't yet look
like a man who has had a reprieve, only
a respite.
I feel that he feels it is all over, but
personally I shall go on hoping.
Lady Jarvis is away.
I loner to talk about it with her.
Yours, G.
335
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Sunday, August igth. Rosedah.
I am staying with Lady Jarvis. There
is no one here but myself and Cunning-
hame. She told us she had heard from
Mrs Housman, who has finished her
postulancy and received the novice's white
veil.
She had seen her. She says she is
quite certain that it is irrevocable and that
Mrs Housman will never change her
mind, now.
Cunninghame said he had hoped up till
now this would not happen (though he
had always feared it might happen) and
that Mrs Housman would think better of
it. He thought it very wrong and selfish
and quite inexcusable on the part of the
Church authorities.
Lady Jarvis said it must appear so to
him. She herself would have no sympathy
with a vocation such as this one must
336
P as s i n g B 1/
appear to be to the world in L^eneral, i
even to people who knew Mrs Housn
well, like Cunninghame and myself;
Mrs Housman's act had not surpri
her.
"But," said Cunninghame, "do ^
approve of it ? "
"The person concerned," said L;
Jarvis, " is the only judge in such a mat
Nobody else has the right to judge. I
a sacred thing, and the approval or '
approval of an outsider is I think sim
impertinent." -
We then talked of it no more. Bui
the afternoon I went out for a walk v
Lady Jarvis and she reverted to
question.
She said : "I hope you understand I
so far from disapproving of Clare's
I understand it and approve of it ; bi
don't expect you or anyone else to do
same."
I said she need not have told me t
I knew it already.
Y 337
Passing By
She then said : " Clare knew you would
understand, even if you didn't understand."
I said that was my exact position : "I
did not understand, but I knew there
was something to understand, and that
therefore she was right."
33«
Letter from Guy Cunmnghame to
Mrs Caryl
London,
Monday, August loth.
Dearest Elsie,
I have just come back
from Rosedale. There is no one there
except Godfrey. Lady Jarvis told us
that Mrs Housman has finished the first
period you told me about, and has taken
the veil, though it isn't irrevocable yet,
but for all intents and purposes it is, as
we are all certain now that she will never
leave the Convent. You know what I
think about it. I haven't changed my
mind, but Lady Jarvis doesn't disapprove,
or is too loyal to say so.
George knows, he is going to Ireland
with his sister.
I can't help thinking it is all a great, a
wicked mistake, and I can't help still
thinking it selfish.
George talked about Mrs Housman, at
339
Passing By
least he just alluded to her having become
a nun, as if it were a fact and quite irre-
vocable. He said : " Once the priests get
hold of someone they will never let them
go, and in this case it was a regular con-
spiracy." But somehow or other this did
not seem to me to ring quite true, from
him, and I felt he was using this as a
shield or a disguise or mask. I said so
to Godfrey, but found it impossible to get
any response. He won't talk about it.
Yours,
G.
^o
From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor
Sutiday, August 26th. Carbis Bay Hotel.
I have come down here to spend a week
by myself. It is three years ago since I
came here for the first time to stay with
Mr and Mrs Housman.
I hesitated about coming down here
again, but I am now glad that 1 did so.
I went to Father Stanway's church this
morning and heard him preach. He is a
good preacher, clear and unaffected. He
quoted two sayings which struck me.
One was about going away from earthly
solace, and the other I cannot remember
well enough to transcribe, but I have
written him a post card asking who said
them and where 1 could find them.
In the afternoon I went for a walk alone
along the cliffs and passed the place where
we began Les Mis^rables. I am re-reading
it, not where we left off, but from the
beginning.
341
Passing By
Monday, August '2.1th.
Father Stanway called this morning
while I was out. He has left me the
quotations on a card.
They are both from Thomas a Kempis.
One of them is this : " By so much the
more does a man draw nig-h to God as he
goes away from all earthly solace." The
other : " Whosoever is not ready to suffer
all things and to stand resigned to the will
of his beloved is not worthy to be called
a lover."
Tuesday, August 'z%th.
I have resolved to give up keeping this
diary.
342
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